Compare towns
Barnet vs Strafford vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Barnet | Strafford | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 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+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.