Compare towns

Williston vs Putnam vs Stowe

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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.

MeasureWillistonPutnamStowe
People
Population
10,144Highest
9,292
5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
46.3±7.6Highest
19% above U.S.
Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
Williston and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,149±$44Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,458±$242
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$7,161Highest
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
25% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stowe and Williston 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 #11 of 70 in VT #128 of 149 in CT —
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Putnam School District Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town Putnam High School Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.5Lowest
11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.