Compare towns
Putney vs Rochester 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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Rochester | Plainfield | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,389Lowest |
2,522 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49% 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% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 10% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% 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. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest 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% |
86.1% 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. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above 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% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.