Compare towns
Calais vs Charlotte vs Westford
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).
Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k median).
Westford has the most renters (13.9% rent).
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 | Charlotte | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
3,916Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Charlotte and Westford 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% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Charlotte 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% |
22.3%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Charlotte 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% VT: 43.8% |
66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Charlotte and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
$1,738±$803 41% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$6,282Lowest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte and Calais 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 | — | #3 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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.