Compare towns
Putney vs Sunapee 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).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Sunapee | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
3,416Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Putney 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest 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 |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Sunapee 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. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Calais 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sunapee School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.