Compare towns
Putney vs Bennington vs Middlesex 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k 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 | Bennington | Middlesex | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
15,249Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Bennington 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
| Middlesex 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±$44k 5% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
| 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 59% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,183±$66 4% below VT |
| 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 5% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Cambridge 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% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.