Compare towns
Strafford vs Putney vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Berlin 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 | Strafford | Putney | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
2,622 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Strafford and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Strafford and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Strafford 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 | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Strafford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.