Compare towns
Calais vs Stratton vs Wardsboro
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%).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
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 | Stratton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
532Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Calais 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Stratton 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
| Stratton and Calais 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 |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Wardsboro 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school 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.