Compare towns
Cambridge vs Putney vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Putney | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767Highest |
2,622Lowest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Highest 13% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Cambridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Putney and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Putney and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Cambridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$948±$45 23% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Cambridge 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.