Compare towns
Halifax vs Calais vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Halifax | Calais | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,713 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Calais and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Calais and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Calais and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Calais 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 | Halifax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.