Compare towns
Putney vs Fall River vs Westminster vs Dummerston
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Fall River | Westminster | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
94,082Highest |
2,999 |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
$395,500±$11kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,155±$27 18% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
10.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.