Compare towns
Putney vs Walden 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).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Walden | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,037Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Walden 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Walden 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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 |
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.