Compare towns
Putney vs Peru vs Washington 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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Peru | Washington | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
434Lowest |
1,056 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Washington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Washington 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% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Peru 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Peru and Dummerston 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 |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Peru 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Dummerston 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 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 |
28 min 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.