Compare towns
Calais vs Dover vs Mendon vs Newfane
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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.
| Measure | Calais | Dover | Mendon | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,466 |
1,113Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Mendon 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Newfane 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Calais and Mendon 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
| Calais and Mendon 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Calais and Newfane 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 |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Newfane 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 | 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.