Compare towns
Putney vs Westford 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).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Westford | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
2,290 |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Westford 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Westford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Westford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer 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 |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Westford 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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 |
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.