Compare towns
Calais vs Stowe 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 the most affordable homes ($390k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
5,285Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above 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±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Stowe 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,282Lowest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Westford 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% 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 |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Calais 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 | Stowe Town School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.