Compare towns
Calais vs Fairfax vs White River Junction
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 oldest population (median age 42).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Fairfax | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
5,226Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Calais and Fairfax 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Fairfax 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% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Fairfax 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
| Fairfax 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±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
| Calais and Fairfax 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 |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Calais and White River Junction 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 |
$5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Fairfax 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Calais 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fairfax School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.