Compare towns

Putney vs Strafford vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasurePutneyStraffordWindham
People
Population
2,622
1,372Lowest
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Strafford and Putney 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
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$110,833±$19k
37% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$431,300±$40k
30% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,125±$789
20% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
$7,149
129% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 — #13 of 120 in NH
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Strafford School District Windham School District
High school in town None in town None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.