Compare towns
Barnard vs Williston vs Calais vs Westford
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Williston | Calais | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,713 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Williston and Westford 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest 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±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Williston and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT |
$1,832±$130 48% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Williston 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 |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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.