Compare towns
Putney vs Topsham 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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Topsham | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
9,706Highest |
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. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 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 |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Topsham 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. |
$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Topsham 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. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Topsham 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.