Compare towns
Waterbury vs Worcester vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Waterbury | Worcester | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
831Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Worcester and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waterbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Waterbury and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Highest 17% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Waterbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Worcester 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.