Compare towns
Putney vs Sturbridge 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Sturbridge | Dummerston | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
9,960Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%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. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3 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% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% 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. |
1982Highest 2 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. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| 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.