Compare towns
Putney vs Walden vs Danville vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Danville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Walden | Danville | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,037Lowest |
2,360 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+6.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
53.1±6Highest 23% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Danville and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Danville 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% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$70,946±$7kLowest 13% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$275,800±$43k 13% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
— | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,358 14% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
9.5%±11.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±9.5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Walden 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | 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 | None yet |
VT 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.