Compare towns
Bolton vs Chester vs Calais
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%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Chester | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Chester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Bolton 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Bolton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 4% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Bolton 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.