Compare towns
Putney vs Sheldon vs Worcester 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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Sheldon | Worcester | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
2,267 |
831Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Worcester 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.