Compare towns

Middlefield vs Putney vs Peru vs Leyden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

MeasureMiddlefieldPutneyPeruLeyden
People
Population
352Lowest
2,622Highest
630
637
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-26.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.9±3.7Highest
46% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
52.6±4.8
35% above U.S.
53.2±8.2
37% above U.S.
Middlefield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
4.5%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.8%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Peru and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.7%±8.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.6%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Peru and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±4.8
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,750±$23k
29% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$90,750±$18k
12% above U.S.
$105,893±$13kHighest
31% above U.S.
Leyden and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,800±$48k
about the U.S. average
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$267,400±$15kLowest
20% below U.S.
$372,900±$24kHighest
12% above U.S.
Leyden and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,625±$1kHighest
86% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
—
$1,917±$451
36% above U.S.
Middlefield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,926
58% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$3,805Lowest
22% above U.S.
$4,651
49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Middlefield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
98.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
13.2%±9.2
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Middlefield 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 — —
High school in town — None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → None yet 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.