Compare towns
Seward vs Putney vs Stafford
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 expensive homes ($300k median).
Stafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
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 | Seward | Putney | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,055Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±8 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.9±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Stafford and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,786±$20k 7% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,554±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Stafford and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $198,500±$25k 40% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$182,500±$17kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,180±$201Highest 16% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$848±$230 40% below U.S. |
| Seward and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,855Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,649 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.3%±45.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Seward 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 | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.