Compare towns
Putney vs Plainfield vs Wheelock
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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
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 | Plainfield | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,314 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Putney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Plainfield and Putney 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Putney 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.