Compare towns
Calais vs Putney vs Starksboro
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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% 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 | Putney | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.2±4.8 11% below VT |
| Calais and Starksboro 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Putney 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| Calais and Starksboro 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,306±$91 6% above VT |
| Calais and Starksboro 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Starksboro 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 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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.