Compare towns
Putney vs Waterville vs Bakersfield 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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Waterville | Bakersfield | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
680Lowest |
1,109 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Waterville and Bakersfield 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Bakersfield 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% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Bakersfield 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Waterville 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% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None 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.