What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).

Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethel	Putney
People
Population	1,736Lowest	2,622Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT	37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT
Kids under 18	11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Putney and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4%	18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Bethel and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	48.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT	$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average
	Putney and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT	$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT
	Putney and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT	$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,168Lowest about the VT average	$5,313Highest 5% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±22Lowest VT: 48.4%	54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Putney and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	16%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 19% above VT	18 minLowest 24% below VT
Work from home	7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#32 of 70 in VT
School district	White River Unified School District #79	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.