Compare towns
Putney vs Montpelier vs Moretown
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 affordable homes ($300k median).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Montpelier | Moretown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
8,014Highest |
1,532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
46.8±3.8Highest 9% above VT |
| Moretown and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Montpelier and Moretown 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% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$104,423±$7kHighest 29% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$380,800±$36kHighest 20% above VT |
| Moretown and Montpelier 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 |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$838±$462 32% below VT |
| Montpelier and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$5,506 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
16.1%±14.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Montpelier 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% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
18 min 23% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Moretown 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.