Compare towns
Putney vs Sidney vs Dummerston vs Westminster
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).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Sidney | Dummerston | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,790Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Sidney 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. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Dummerston 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. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Westminster 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 18 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.