Compare towns
Putney vs Dummerston vs Barre vs Westminster
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).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Dummerston | Barre | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,090Lowest |
8,412Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Westminster 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.