Compare towns
Putney vs Wilton 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).
Wilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Wilton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
3,960Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Wilton 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest 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% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilton 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% |
36.9%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% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$114,349±$21kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Calais 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. |
$381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Wilton 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. |
$1,382±$70 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Wilton 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. |
$7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9Lowest 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | #54 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.