Compare towns
Calais vs Westford vs Williston
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 kids (22.5% under 18).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Westford | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,290 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston 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% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Williston 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% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest 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±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Westford and Williston 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 |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,832±$130 48% above VT |
| Westford and Williston 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 |
$6,282 25% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Williston 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.