Compare towns
Calais vs Ogunquit vs Williston vs East Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
East Montpelier has the most affordable homes ($379k 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.
| Measure | Calais | Ogunquit | Williston | East Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,379Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
46.7±4 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 25% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$92,778±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$378,700±$32kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,187±$131Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| 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 111% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,868 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.3%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #15 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | U-32 Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.