Compare towns
Calais vs Williston vs Woodbury
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%).
Woodbury has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Williston | Woodbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
10,144Highest |
659Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
54.5±8.8Highest 26% above VT |
| Woodbury and Williston 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Woodbury 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% |
35.8%±14.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Woodbury 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
0%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$84,545±$16kLowest 4% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$311,200±$57kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% 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 | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,609Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.3%±95.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Woodbury 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 |
| 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 |
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.