Compare towns
Bolton vs Castleton vs Windham vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Windham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
4,453 |
19,188Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 7% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
42±8.6Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Castleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k 6% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 8% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 55% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Bolton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 14 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.