Compare towns
Poultney vs Putney vs Swanton
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).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Putney | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,010Highest |
2,622Lowest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
37.8±4.7Highest 12% below VT |
| Swanton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Swanton 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,617±$6k 11% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
| Putney and Poultney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $913±$84 26% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,520Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Poultney 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | Poultney High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| 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.