Compare towns
Calais vs Westford vs Windham vs Dummerston
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 youngest population (median age 42).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Windham | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,290Highest |
594Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 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 |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12kLowest 16% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Westford and Dummerston 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
— | $1,392±$126Lowest 13% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$6,282 25% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.