Compare towns
Putney vs Wells vs Brattleboro
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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Brattleboro has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Wells | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,148Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Wells and Brattleboro 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Putney and Wells 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Putney and Brattleboro 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 |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Wells and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.