Compare towns
Calais vs Wardsboro vs Windham 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%).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Wardsboro | Windham | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
820 |
594Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Windham 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% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais 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% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Windham 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard 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 |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
— | $1,372±$80Lowest 11% 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 |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Windham 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 | — | 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 History | None yet | 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.