Compare towns
Putney vs Thornton vs Westminster 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%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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.
| Measure | Putney | Thornton | Westminster | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,799 |
2,999Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Thornton 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% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 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% |
46.3%Lowest 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% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below 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±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below 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. |
$916±$126 35% 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. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,536 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% |
49.2%±7.5 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% |
8.8% 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% |
88.2% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% 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% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Thornton School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.