Compare towns
Dummerston vs Williston vs Waitsfield vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Dummerston | Williston | Waitsfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
10,144Highest |
1,918 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest 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 | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% 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 | $335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Williston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
$1,408±$392 14% 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 | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.