What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Calais	Lowell
People
Population	1,713Highest	1,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42±8.6Highest about the VT average	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT
	Calais and Lowell 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%	30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Lowell 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%	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Calais and Lowell 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	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT	$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT	$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,586Highest 31% above VT	$2,810Lowest 44% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4%	26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Calais and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 32% above VT	55 minHighest 135% above VT
Work from home	23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%	7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Lowell School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.