Compare towns
Putney vs Dover vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Putney | Dover | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,466 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Dover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Putney and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.