Compare towns
Putnam vs Williamstown 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 oldest population (median age 53.6).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Williamstown | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
3,579Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% 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%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Williamstown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Orwell 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.