Compare towns
Calais vs Putney vs Wolfeboro
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).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,622 |
6,571Highest |
| 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±8.6 8% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%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% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Calais and Wolfeboro 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. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.