Compare towns
Calais vs Pomfret vs Williston 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 homeowners (92.4%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Pomfret | Williston | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
908Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Pomfret and Williston 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% |
15.4%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 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% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret 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% VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| 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 24% above VT |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Williston 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±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard 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 |
$1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Calais 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.