Compare towns
Putney vs Dummerston vs Hancock vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Dummerston | Hancock | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,090 |
1,791Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Contoocook Valley School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.