Compare towns
Putney vs Castleton vs Lyme
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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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 | Castleton | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,453Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Castleton 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% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
| Lyme and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.