Compare towns
Calais vs Richmond vs Strafford
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%).
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Richmond | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
4,159Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Richmond 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% |
21.5%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Richmond and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Lowest 31% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Strafford 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Richmond 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.