Compare towns
Johnson vs Putney vs Wilder
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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Highest |
2,622Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder 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%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Putney 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| Putney and Wilder 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 |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder 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 |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% 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 min 24% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Wilder 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 | — |
| High school 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.