Compare towns
Leyden vs Plainfield vs Putney vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Bernardston has the most kids (17.6% under 18).
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 | Leyden | Plainfield | Putney | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637Lowest |
1,314 |
2,622Highest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bernardston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 49% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,516Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Plainfield 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 | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.