Compare towns
Putney vs Durham vs Dummerston vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Dummerston | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
10,681Highest |
2,090 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Brookline 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Durham and Dummerston 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. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Dummerston 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Putney 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 32% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Brookline 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.