Compare towns
Calais vs Highgate vs Enosburgh 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 people working from home (23.4%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Highgate | Enosburgh | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
3,528Highest |
2,804 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Barnard 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Enosburgh 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Enosburgh 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
29 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.