Compare towns
Putney vs Williston vs Ferrisburgh vs Randolph
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Ferrisburgh has the most homeowners (85.3%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,661 |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.5±4.9Highest 6% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Williston 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Randolph 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Randolph 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% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williston and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,435±$173 16% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,120Highest 21% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ferrisburgh 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | #7 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.