Compare towns
Calais vs Pawlet vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Pawlet has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
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 | Pawlet | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,480Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Pawlet 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet 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 VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below 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 | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Calais and Pawlet 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 |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest 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 | 8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Pawlet 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | 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 |
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.