Compare towns
Calais vs Orwell vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Orwell has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Orwell | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,294Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Orwell and Westford 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% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Calais 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 |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$335,600±$25kLowest 6% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Calais 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% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.