Compare towns

Barnet vs Strafford vs Calais vs Barnet

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 renters (20.1% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).

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.

MeasureBarnetStraffordCalaisBarnet
People
Population
1,855Highest
1,372
1,713
61Lowest
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±4.7
19% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
62.2±45.8Highest
44% above VT
Barnet and Strafford 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%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4
VT: 17.9%
31.1%±29.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.8%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
36.1%±44.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Barnet and Barnet 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%
VT: 43.8%
59.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
0%±23.2Lowest
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±$15k
17% below VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
$57,917±$16kLowest
29% below 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±$24k
22% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$390,300±$36k
23% above VT
$204,200±$38kLowest
36% below 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
$4,489
11% below VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$6,586
31% above VT
$2,950Lowest
41% below 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%
VT: 10.1%
47.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
100%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than 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%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
55%±29Highest
VT: 16.9%
Barnet and Calais 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 History 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.