Compare towns
Lowell vs Putney vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Albany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Lowell | Putney | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070 |
2,622Highest |
934Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
42.4±6.2Highest about the VT average |
| Albany and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
31%±10.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Albany and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Putney and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.3%±4.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$59,167±$14k 27% below VT |
| Putney and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$231,500±$12k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,114±$23Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,093 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44%±65.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
20%±11.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Albany 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lowell School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.