Compare towns
Putney vs Castleton vs Strafford
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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,453Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Strafford 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 | Strafford 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 |
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.