What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).

South Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putney	South Burlington
People
Population	2,622Lowest	20,756Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT	38.2±1.8Highest 11% below VT
	South Burlington and Putney 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%	19%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	South Burlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4%	17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Putney and South Burlington 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%	67.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%	6.5%±2Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average	$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT
	South Burlington 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±$44kLowest 5% below VT	$443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT	$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,313Lowest 5% above VT	$6,674Highest 32% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4%	42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Putney and South Burlington 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%	7.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Highest VT: 73.2%	61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minHighest 24% below VT	18 minLowest 25% below VT
Work from home	16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	South Burlington 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	#12 of 70 in VT
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	South Burlington School District
High school in town	None in town	South Burlington High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.