Compare towns

Harmony vs Putney vs Busti

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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.

MeasureHarmonyPutneyBusti
People
Population
2,344Lowest
2,622
7,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±7
7% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
46.6±4.8Highest
20% above U.S.
Busti and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Harmony and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.7%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
23.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Busti and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
17.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,600±$11kLowest
27% below U.S.
$79,706±$18kHighest
about the U.S. average
$67,292±$9k
17% below U.S.
Putney and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$128,300±$15kLowest
61% below U.S.
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
$164,600±$12k
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$788±$40
44% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,085±$106Highest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,805Lowest
10% below U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$3,876
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43%±18.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
55.5%±13.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Busti and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
Work from home
8.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Busti 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 PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
8.5
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.