Compare towns
Worcester vs Putney vs Newfane vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Worcester | Putney | Newfane | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,456 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.