Compare towns
Putney vs Williston vs Fairfield
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% 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 | Williston | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
10,144Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Williston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Williston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,816Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None 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.