Compare towns
Putney vs Ripton vs Rochester 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Rochester | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
1,389 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Rochester and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| 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±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
— | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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 | 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.