Compare towns

Putney vs Lancaster vs Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Lancaster has the most homeowners (75.1%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).

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.

MeasurePutneyLancasterWindsor
People
Population
2,622
3,216Highest
2,060Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
45.5±6.9Highest
17% above U.S.
44.6±12.3
15% above U.S.
Lancaster and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±6.1
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windsor and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor and Lancaster 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
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kHighest
about the U.S. average
$68,911±$23k
15% below U.S.
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below U.S.
Putney and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
$215,700±$24k
35% below U.S.
$170,300±$22kLowest
49% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,019±$263Highest
28% below U.S.
$1,002±$107
29% below U.S.
Lancaster and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$4,226Lowest
35% above U.S.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±20Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1942
38 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
23 minHighest
13% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Lancaster 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 #107 of 120 in NH #61 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 White Mountains Regional School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.