Compare towns
Strafford vs Calais vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
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 | Strafford | Calais | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,713 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest 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 | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.