Compare towns
Putney vs Williston vs Hinesburg
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 most affordable homes ($300k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hinesburg has the most homeowners (83.6%).
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 | Hinesburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
50.1±5.2Highest 16% above VT |
| Hinesburg 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% |
18%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Hinesburg 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% |
25.8%±7.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hinesburg and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
64.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT |
| Hinesburg 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±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$463,400±$51k 46% above VT |
| Williston and Hinesburg 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 |
$1,651±$155 34% above VT |
| Williston and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$7,667Highest 52% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.2%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Hinesburg 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% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Hinesburg 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 | #4 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Champlain Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.5 |
| 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.