Compare towns

Castleton vs Putnam vs Putney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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.

MeasureCastletonPutnamPutney
People
Population
4,453Highest
540Lowest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
Putnam and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
Putney and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
—
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,674
18% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
21 minHighest
19% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Putnam 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 #39 of 70 in VT — #32 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 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 History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.