Compare towns
Putney vs Ossipee vs Calais vs Arlington
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).
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Ossipee | Calais | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,521Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Ossipee 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Calais 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.