Compare towns
Worcester vs Putney vs Strafford
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 people working from home (23.6%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Putney | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Strafford 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Putney 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 | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.