Compare towns
Putney vs Athens vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Athens has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Putney | Athens | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
431Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.3±6.5Highest 22% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Athens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athens and Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$5,438 74% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.