Compare towns
Bolton vs Stowe 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 the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Stowe | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
5,285Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Stowe 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%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Bolton 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 |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above 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±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Stowe and Calais 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Calais 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 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.