Compare towns
Putney vs Royalton vs Wilder
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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Royalton | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
2,752 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Royalton 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% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Royalton 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 |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Wilder 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 |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Wilder 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% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
20 minHighest 13% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley 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.