Compare towns
Putney vs Cornwall vs Orwell
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).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Cornwall | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Cornwall and Orwell 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Orwell 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 5% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Cornwall and Orwell 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.