Compare towns
Danby vs Putney vs Peru vs Washington
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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Danby | Putney | Peru | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
2,622Highest |
434Lowest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Washington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Peru and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Peru and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166 36% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
| Peru and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Washington 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.