Compare towns
Putney vs Hyde Park vs Chester
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).
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Hyde Park | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
513Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.6±10.1 about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Hyde Park 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park 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% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Hyde Park 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±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Putney and Chester 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 |
$1,306±$285Highest 6% above VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Hyde Park 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Chester 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 | #59 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.