Compare towns

Calais vs Chester vs Ogunquit

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 kids (22.5% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureCalaisChesterOgunquit
People
Population
1,713
2,992Highest
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
49.7±4.7
28% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Chester 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%
33.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Chester 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
25% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
Ogunquit 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
17% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #49 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Green Mountain Unified School District #77 —
High school 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

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.