Compare towns
Putney vs Williston vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
10,144Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Williston 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.