Compare towns
Putney vs Wardsboro vs Stratton
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).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Wardsboro | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
820 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton 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±$44k 5% below VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Stratton 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 |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Putney 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Wardsboro 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 | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school 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.