Compare towns
Calais vs Hartford 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 most homeowners (92.4%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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.
| Measure | Calais | Hartford | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
10,736Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Hartford 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%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Williston 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Calais 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% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below 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 |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest 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 |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.