Compare towns
Putney vs Windham vs Northfield
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Windham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
16,038Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Windham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Putney 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.