What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k median).

Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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	Norwich
People
Population	1,713Lowest	3,640Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42±8.6Highest about the VT average	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT
	Calais and Norwich 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%	24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Norwich 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%	16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Calais and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	81%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%	4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Calais and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT	$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT	$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT	$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT
	Norwich and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,586Lowest 31% above VT	$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4%	30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Calais and Norwich 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%	2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	19 minLowest 19% below VT
Work from home	23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%	21%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Calais and Norwich 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	—	#1 of 70 in VT
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Norwich 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.