Compare towns
Calais vs Dover vs Putney vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Calais | Dover | Putney | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,466 |
2,622Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Dover and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest 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 | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.