Compare towns
Putney vs Calais vs Bellows Falls
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).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Calais | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,713Lowest |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Calais and Bellows Falls 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% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Calais 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Calais and Bellows Falls 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.