Compare towns
Putney vs Arkwright vs Middlesex vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Putney | Arkwright | Middlesex | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
859Lowest |
1,943 |
3,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
50.8±7.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.4±1.8 4% below U.S. |
| Arkwright and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Arkwright and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$93,000±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$343,000±$38k 3% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$875±$689 38% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,183±$66 16% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,760Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,910 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.6%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.