Compare towns
Starksboro vs Putney vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Starksboro | Putney | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,939 |
2,622Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±4.8 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
| Calais and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$15k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$91 6% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest 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 | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Starksboro 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 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.