Compare towns
Putney vs Reading 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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Reading | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
25,612Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Dummerston 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% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Reading | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.