Compare towns
Putney vs Ripton vs Calais 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Cambridge has the most renters (29.7% rent).
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 | Ripton | Calais | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
508Lowest |
1,713 |
3,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Calais 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
| Ripton 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 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,183±$66 4% below VT |
| Calais and Cambridge 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,910Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.