Compare towns
Calais vs Chittenden vs Cornwall
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%).
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
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 | Chittenden | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,318 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
| Chittenden and Cornwall 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% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Chittenden 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% |
51.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Chittenden 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 |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Chittenden 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 |
$346,800±$35kLowest 10% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Cornwall and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Chittenden 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 |
$5,346Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.