Compare towns

Putney vs Stratham vs Calais

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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Calais has the oldest population (median age 42).

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.

MeasurePutneyStrathamCalais
People
Population
2,622
7,754Highest
1,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
42±8.6Highest
8% above U.S.
Calais and Stratham 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%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Calais 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%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$6,586
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Putney 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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

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.