Compare towns
Calais vs Reading vs Williston
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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
699Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Reading and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% 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±$36k 23% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% 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 | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Reading 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 |
| 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.