Compare towns

Putney vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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.

MeasurePutneyDoverCambridge
People
Population
2,622
2,308Lowest
3,767Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%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.
47.5±4Highest
22% above U.S.
37.4±1.8
4% below U.S.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
23%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Cambridge and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Putney and Dover 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
U.S.: 35.7%
83.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.4%±4.8
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
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$72,344±$19kLowest
10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$1,308,300±$149kHighest
293% above U.S.
$343,000±$38k
3% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
—
$1,183±$66Highest
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,910Lowest
57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.6%±7.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover 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%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
32 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
37.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 70 in VT #1 of 282 in MA #25 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Cambridge School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.