Compare towns
Poultney vs Benson vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poultney has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Putney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Poultney | Benson | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,010Highest |
784Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Poultney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,617±$6kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $913±$84 26% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Benson and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,520Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | #41 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Poultney High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.