Compare towns
Barnard vs Tunbridge vs Westford vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Tunbridge has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Barnard | Tunbridge | Westford | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,253 |
2,290Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Westford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
42.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$89,464±$26kLowest 10% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$315,300±$23kLowest about the VT average |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,346±$128Lowest 9% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 21% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.