Compare towns
Harmony vs Putney vs Busti vs Panama
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 homeowners (84.6%).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Busti has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Panama has the most renters (44.7% rent).
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 | Harmony | Putney | Busti | Panama |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,344 |
2,622 |
7,452Highest |
451Lowest |
| 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. |
46.6±6.9Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
23.3%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Busti and Panama 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% |
19.9% 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% |
4.7%±2.8 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. |
$60,865±$8k 25% 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±$15k 61% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$164,600±$12k 51% below U.S. |
$105,400±$14kLowest 68% 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. |
$785±$43 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,805 10% below U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,876 24% above U.S. |
$2,500Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±24.1Lowest 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% |
12.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.3%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. |
1965 15 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. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest 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 → | 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.