Compare towns
Putney vs Unity 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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,375Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Unity 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 History | 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.