Compare towns
Cavendish vs Calais vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Cavendish | Calais | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
1,713 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Highest 5% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Cavendish and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Cavendish 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 18 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.