Compare towns
Worcester vs Charlotte vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Charlotte has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Worcester | Charlotte | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
3,916Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Charlotte and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Charlotte and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Charlotte and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Charlotte and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte 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 | — | #3 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.