Compare towns
Calais vs Halifax vs Barnard
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 homeowners (92.4%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Barnard has the shortest commute (29 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 | Halifax | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
847Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Barnard 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% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard 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 |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
29 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | Halifax School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.