What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).

Belgrade has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putney	Belgrade
People
Population	2,622Lowest	3,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S.	47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S.
	Belgrade and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Belgrade 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%	23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Belgrade and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average	$88,338±$13kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Belgrade and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S.	$312,200±$44kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Belgrade and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S.	$857±$108Highest 39% below U.S.
	Belgrade and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,313Highest 70% above U.S.	$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Putney and Belgrade 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%	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Belgrade and Putney 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	#71 of 133 in ME
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.