Compare towns
Washington vs Putney vs Orange vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Washington | Putney | Orange | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
2,622 |
957Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Putney and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 19% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Washington 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.