Compare towns
Calais vs Castleton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Castleton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Calais 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Calais 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Chester 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.