Compare towns
Williamstown 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
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Williamstown | Putney | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
2,622Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest 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 | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 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 | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.