Compare towns
Putney vs Marshfield vs Walden
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).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Marshfield | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,863 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.7±6.1 10% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Walden 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% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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 |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Putney and Walden 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 |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Walden 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% |
9.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Walden 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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.