Compare towns

Calais vs Williston vs Pomfret 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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.

MeasureCalaisWillistonPomfretDummerston
People
Population
1,713
10,144Highest
908Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
53.4±12.1Highest
24% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
Pomfret and Dummerston 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%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±6Lowest
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%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
Pomfret and Dummerston 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%
54.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.2
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Calais and Williston 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
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$84,229±$8kLowest
4% above VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
Williston 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
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$399,200±$144k
26% above VT
$335,300±$22kLowest
6% above VT
Williston and Pomfret 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
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$1,170±$98Lowest
5% below VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
Williston and Calais 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
$5,592
11% above VT
$6,722Highest
33% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
24%±22.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
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%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.8%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1970Lowest
6 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
21 min
11% below VT
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
30.3%±10.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
Pomfret and Dummerston 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 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.