Compare towns
Washington 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
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Washington | Calais | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
1,713 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Washington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Calais and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 19% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest 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 | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% 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 | 31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Lowest 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.