Compare towns
Hallowell vs Putney vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Chelsea has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Hallowell | Putney | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,592Lowest |
2,622 |
2,823Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.2±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hallowell and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,398±$10kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$85,471±$10kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$182,300±$37kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Putney and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$175 37% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,373±$90Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 24% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,313Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
15%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 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 | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hallowell 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 | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 02 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.