Compare towns
Putney vs Castleton vs Eliot 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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% 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 | Putney | Castleton | Eliot | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
4,453 |
7,146Highest |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.4±1.8 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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 10% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$343,000±$38k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,183±$66 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,910 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.6%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Cambridge 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #19 of 133 in ME | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | None 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.