Compare towns
Putney vs Proctor vs Calais
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).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Proctor | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,794 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Proctor 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais 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 5% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.