Compare towns

Calais vs Elmore vs Williston

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).
Elmore has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureCalaisElmoreWilliston
People
Population
1,713
964Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
45±3.5
4% above VT
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
Williston and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4
VT: 17.9%
23.4%±9.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Elmore and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.6%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Calais and Williston 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%
47.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
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±$27k
24% above VT
$98,750±$24kLowest
22% above VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
Williston 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
23% above VT
$315,800±$47kLowest
about the VT average
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
14% above VT
$1,225±$263Lowest
about the VT average
$1,832±$130Highest
48% 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
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$5,066Lowest
about the VT average
$5,592
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.8%±65.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Calais and Williston 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%
3.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
92.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
same as VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
29 min
25% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
23.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
Calais and Williston 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 Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.