Compare towns
Johnson vs Putney vs Waterville
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 most people working from home (16.9%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Highest |
2,622 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Waterville 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%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Putney and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Putney and Waterville 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±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 42% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Johnson 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 | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.