Compare towns

Springfield vs Putney 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

Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.

MeasureSpringfieldPutneyCalais
People
Population
1,122Lowest
2,622Highest
1,713
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
Springfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
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+
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
Springfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
Calais and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$217
22% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
Calais and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
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
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
Work from home
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
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 —
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 History 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.