Compare towns
Bolton vs Williston vs Barnard 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Williston | Barnard | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,211 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Williston and Barnard 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard 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% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Bolton and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.