Compare towns
Putney vs Waltham 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).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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.
| Measure | Putney | Waltham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
452Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Waltham 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.