Compare towns
Putney vs Benson vs Hyde Park
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).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Hyde Park has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Benson | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
784Lowest |
3,000Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
| Benson and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Benson 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Hyde Park 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% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$84,375±$9kHighest 4% above VT |
| Hyde Park 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±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
| Putney and Benson 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 |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,007±$340 18% below VT |
| Benson and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,883Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Benson 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.