Compare towns
Putney vs Orwell 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Orwell | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,294Lowest |
3,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Putney 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
| Putney and Cambridge 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 |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
| Cambridge and Orwell 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 |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
| Cambridge and Orwell 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Orwell 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.