Compare towns
Calais vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs East Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
East Montpelier has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Calais | Appleton | Mapleton | East Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.7±4 20% above U.S. |
| Appleton and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$92,778±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Calais and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$378,700±$32k 14% above U.S. |
| Calais and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,187±$131 16% below U.S. |
| Calais and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,868 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.3%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and East Montpelier 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 | — | — | — | #15 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | U-32 Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.