Compare towns

Putney vs Thornton 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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.

MeasurePutneyThorntonDummerston
People
Population
2,622
2,799Highest
2,090Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
51.1±3.4Highest
31% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Thornton 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%
13.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Thornton 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%
46.3%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%
4.8%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$90,022±$17k
12% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
Dummerston and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$351,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
Thornton 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.
$1,270±$428
10% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
Dummerston and Thornton 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.
$5,032
61% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±24.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thornton and Putney 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%
9.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.8%±9.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Thornton 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 #18 of 120 in NH —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Thornton School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.