Compare towns
Barnard vs Putney vs Williston vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Barnard | Putney | Williston | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
2,622 |
10,144Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Williston and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Williston and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130 48% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnard 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.