Compare towns
Putney vs Lyme vs Dummerston vs Arlington
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Lyme | Dummerston | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,090 |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Arlington 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
| Lyme 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. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Lyme 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 | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lyme School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.