Compare towns

Putney vs Laconia 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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.

MeasurePutneyLaconiaDummerston
People
Population
2,622
17,085Highest
2,090Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
45.3±3.9
16% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
Dummerston and Laconia 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%
18.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Laconia 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%
22.8%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Laconia 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%
27.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1
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
$73,218±$12kLowest
9% 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±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$340,300±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
Laconia and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,224±$107
13% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
Dummerston and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$4,484Lowest
44% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
54.5%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Laconia 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%
12.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
32% below U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
21 minHighest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Putney 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 #105 of 120 in NH —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Laconia School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Laconia High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.