Compare towns
Calais vs Reading vs Salisbury
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 kids (22.5% under 18).
Reading has the most renters (15.1% rent).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Reading | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
699Lowest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
| Reading and Salisbury 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
| Calais and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
| Calais and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Calais 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.