Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Calais vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Calais | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Calais and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Calais and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Calais and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 |
| High school 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.