Compare towns

Putney vs Salisbury vs Williston

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).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasurePutneySalisburyWilliston
People
Population
2,622
1,200Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
50.6±6.5Highest
17% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
Salisbury and Williston 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%
16.6%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Salisbury 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%
30.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$99,688±$21k
23% above VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
Williston and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kLowest
5% below VT
$306,900±$51k
3% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,443±$984
17% above VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Williston and Salisbury 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
$4,842Lowest
4% below VT
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Williston 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%
4.6%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
19 min
20% below VT
20 minHighest
16% below VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Williston 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 — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.