Compare towns
Putney vs Fairfax vs Wells
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).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Fairfax | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
5,226Highest |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Fairfax 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 |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fairfax School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.