Compare towns
Calais vs Cornwall vs Williston vs Dummerston
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 youngest population (median age 42).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Cornwall | Williston | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,208Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Cornwall and Dummerston 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% |
18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Dummerston 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% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Cornwall and Williston 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 |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Williston and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% 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 | $6,586 31% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Cornwall 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.