Compare towns
Putnam vs Windsor vs Dresden
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 highest household income ($92k).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 59).
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 | Windsor | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
3,554Highest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Putnam 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Dresden 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. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31k 38% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Dresden and Windsor 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. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dresden and Windsor 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor and Putnam 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.