Compare towns
Putney vs Washington vs Cambridge
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).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k median).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% 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 | Washington | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,624Lowest |
3,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
48.2±6.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
37.4±1.8 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Putney 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% |
21.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Putney 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% |
17.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$59,861±$17kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$72,344±$19k 10% below U.S. |
| Putney and Cambridge 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. |
$195,200±$36kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$343,000±$38kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Cambridge and Putney 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. |
$1,036±$322 27% below U.S. |
$1,183±$66Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Cambridge and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,286Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$4,910 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.6%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Washington 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% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Washington 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 | — | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.


