Compare towns
Putney vs Westminster vs Calais 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Westminster | Calais | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
497Lowest |
1,713 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Westminster 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Calais 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston 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 |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Calais 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.