Compare towns
Calais vs Putney vs Townsend
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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,622 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Highest 8% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Calais and Townsend 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Calais 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. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Townsend 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.