Compare towns
Newfane vs Putney vs Townsend vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Newfane | Putney | Townsend | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
2,622 |
9,100Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 66% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wardsboro and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Middlesex | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.