Compare towns
Cambridge vs Dover vs Putney vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the most kids (23% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Cambridge | Dover | Putney | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
33,364Highest |
2,622Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 4% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3Highest about the U.S. average |
| Castleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 3% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 16% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 57% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Dover School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.