Compare towns
Duxbury vs Putney vs Williston vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Duxbury | Putney | Williston | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,548Lowest |
2,622 |
10,144Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.5±4.4 13% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,208±$25k 30% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Williston and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $364,600±$27k 15% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$407 7% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$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 | $6,564 30% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.2%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Harwood Union Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.