Compare towns

Putney vs Waitsfield 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).
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).

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.

MeasurePutneyWaitsfieldWindham
People
Population
2,622
1,918Lowest
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
44.3±5.3Highest
14% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
Waitsfield and Windham 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%
23.8%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Waitsfield 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%
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3Lowest
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
$84,375±$34k
5% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$422,400±$92k
27% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,200±$821
15% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
$6,208
99% 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%
47.4%±30.6Lowest
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%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
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.
25 min
5% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Waitsfield 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 Harwood Unified Union School District #60 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 Our Story 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.