Compare towns

Putney vs Walpole vs Calais vs Underhill

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).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).

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.

MeasurePutneyWalpoleCalaisUnderhill
People
Population
2,622
3,690Highest
1,713Lowest
3,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
46.5±10.4Highest
20% above U.S.
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
38.1±11.4
about the U.S. average
Walpole and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Underhill 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
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Walpole 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$82,617±$16k
about the U.S. average
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
$92,267±$54k
14% above U.S.
Calais and Underhill 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.
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$446,000±$24kHighest
34% above U.S.
Underhill 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.
$1,165±$150
18% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
—
Calais and Walpole 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.
$6,078
95% above U.S.
$6,586
111% above U.S.
$6,697Highest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Walpole 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%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Underhill 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 #27 of 120 in NH — #2 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Fall Mountain Regional School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
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

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.