Compare towns

Putney vs Ripton vs Plainfield 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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k 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.

MeasurePutneyRiptonPlainfieldDummerston
People
Population
2,622Highest
508Lowest
2,522
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Ripton 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
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield 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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%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%
20.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
Plainfield and Ripton 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.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
Plainfield and Ripton 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.
—
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
Plainfield 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.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Ripton 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%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Plainfield 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 — #19 of 120 in NH —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Plainfield School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
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.