Compare towns
Hampton vs Ira vs Putney vs Smithville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Smithville has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Ira | Putney | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
381Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,525 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.1±3.2 11% above U.S. |
| Ira and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Smithville and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Putney and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42k 48% below U.S. |
| Putney and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$889±$186 37% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,254 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithville and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Hampton 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 | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.