Compare towns

Putney vs Williston vs Windham

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 the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (82.9%).

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.

MeasurePutneyWillistonWindham
People
Population
2,622
10,144Highest
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
Williston and Windham 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%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Windham 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%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
Williston and Windham 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
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Lowest
5% above VT
$5,592
11% above VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
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%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
20 min
16% below VT
27 minHighest
14% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Windham 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 —
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.