Compare towns
Putney vs Wolfeboro vs Williston
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).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
6,571 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% 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. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| 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.