Compare towns
Calais vs Berlin vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Berlin | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,880 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Berlin and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 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 | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% 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 | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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 | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Williston 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.