Compare towns
Putnam vs Highgate vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Putnam | Highgate | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Orwell 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.