What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).

Burlington is a college town. 32.3% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Burlington	Calais
People
Population	44,675Highest	1,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	26.8±0.8Lowest 38% below VT	42±8.6Highest about the VT average
Kids under 18	11.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	12.1%±1.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.5%Highest VT: 43.8%	55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	32.3%±2.2Highest VT: 7%	7.4%±3.4Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,109±$4kLowest 12% below VT	$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT
	Calais and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,800±$19kHighest 40% above VT	$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT
	Burlington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,649±$53Highest 34% above VT	$1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT
	Burlington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,335Highest 46% above VT	$6,586Lowest 31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.6%±4.9Highest VT: 48.4%	49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Burlington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	92.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 20% below VT	31 minHighest 32% above VT
Work from home	19%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Calais and Burlington 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	#23 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Burlington School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	Burlington High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.