Compare towns
Putney vs Fletcher vs Westminster vs Dummerston
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).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Fletcher | Westminster | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,196Lowest |
2,999Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Westminster and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Fletcher 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% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 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% |
32.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Fletcher 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 5% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Fletcher 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 |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Fletcher and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,965 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fletcher School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.