Compare towns
Calais vs Strafford 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 people working from home (23.4%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Strafford | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,372 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest 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±$27k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnard 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 |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,038Lowest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.