Compare towns
Putney vs Upton vs Strafford
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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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.
| Measure | Putney | Upton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
8,189Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.