Compare towns
Johnson vs Putney vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Johnson | Putney | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
2,622Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
| Waterbury and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waterbury and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Waterbury and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,027±$535Highest 17% below VT |
| Waterbury and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Putney 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
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.