Compare towns
Bolton vs Calais vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Bolton | Calais | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest 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+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 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 | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Bolton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% 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 | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District |
| 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.