Compare towns
Putney vs Worcester vs Middlebury
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 kids (15.4% under 18).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Worcester | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
831Lowest |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlebury and Worcester 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
| Middlebury and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
| Middlebury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Middlebury 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.