Compare towns
Putney vs Peabody 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).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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.
| Measure | Putney | Peabody | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
54,695Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Peabody 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% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Peabody 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% |
24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%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% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Peabody 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. |
$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$5,065 62% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than 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 |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Peabody | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.