Compare towns
Putney vs Fairfield 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 most people working from home (16.9%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Cambridge has the most expensive homes ($343k 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 | Fairfield | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,938Lowest |
3,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Putney and Cambridge 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% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
| Cambridge and Fairfield 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 |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
| Cambridge and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,816Lowest 4% below VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Cambridge 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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.