Compare towns
Putney vs Walden vs Fair Haven
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Walden | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,037Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Walden and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Putney 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% |
20.4%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Walden and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Walden 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±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Putney and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$900±$136Highest 27% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Walden and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.