Compare towns

Marshfield vs Putney vs Walden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldPutneyWalden
People
Population
1,863
2,622Highest
1,037Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.3%
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.7±6.1
10% below VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
48.8±3.2Highest
13% above VT
Kids under 18
24.2%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
14.3%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
17.8%±2.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
20.4%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Walden and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.5%
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
26.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$60,313±$10kLowest
26% below VT
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$88,000±$15kHighest
8% above VT
Walden and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$214,100±$37kLowest
32% below VT
$300,000±$44kHighest
5% below VT
$238,900±$23k
25% below VT
Putney and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,317±$126Highest
7% above VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$900±$136
27% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,668Lowest
27% below VT
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$3,944
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.7%±73.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±86.8
VT: 48.4%
Marshfield and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
23% above VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
26 min
10% above VT
Work from home
24.5%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.7
VT: 16.9%
Marshfield and Walden 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 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
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.