Compare towns
Putney vs Barnard vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Barnard has the highest household income ($98k).
Cambridge has the most renters (29.7% rent).
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 | Barnard | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,211Lowest |
3,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Barnard and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
| Barnard and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
| Barnard and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,183±$66 4% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,910Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3Highest 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 | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Cambridge School District |
| 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.