Compare towns

Putney vs Addison vs Chester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Addison has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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.

MeasurePutneyAddisonChester
People
Population
2,622
1,175Lowest
2,992Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
53.1±7.6Highest
23% above VT
49.7±4.7
15% above VT
Addison and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
18.6%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Addison and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.1%±1.9
VT: 21.4%
29.8%±7.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
Chester and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
40.2%
VT: 43.8%
33.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
5.4%±2.3
VT: 7%
5.1%±4Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$106,667±$7kHighest
31% above VT
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
$362,200±$23kHighest
14% above VT
$232,900±$44kLowest
26% below VT
Addison and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$2,019±$461Highest
64% above VT
$960±$44
22% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
5% above VT
$5,831Highest
16% above VT
$4,262Lowest
15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.9%±62.8
VT: 48.4%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
28 minHighest
18% above VT
28 minHighest
18% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14%±6.9
VT: 16.9%
Putney and Chester 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 #32 of 70 in VT — #49 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town None in town — Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.