Compare towns
Putney vs Strafford vs Berlin
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).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Strafford | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,372Lowest |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Strafford and Berlin 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Berlin 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Strafford and Berlin 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Strafford 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.