Compare towns
Putney vs Halifax vs Worcester
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Halifax | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
847 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Worcester 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% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Putney and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Worcester 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 |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
| Worcester and Halifax 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 |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Worcester 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 | Halifax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.