Compare towns
Putney vs Fairfield 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 most people working from home (16.9%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Fairfield | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,938 |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Fairfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest 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% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Wells 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.