Compare towns
Putney vs Benson vs Williston
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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
784Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Benson and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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±$44k 5% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Benson 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.