Compare towns
Calais vs Lancaster vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Calais | Lancaster | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Calais 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. 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 | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Calais and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White Mountains Regional School District | 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 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.