Compare towns
Freedom vs Putney vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k 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 | Freedom | Putney | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494 |
2,622Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putney and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
| Putney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$867±$156Highest 39% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom and Jefferson 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 | Freedom School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 14 photos → |
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.