Compare towns
Duxbury vs Williston vs Calais vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Duxbury has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Williston | Calais | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,548 |
10,144Highest |
1,713 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.5±4.4Lowest 13% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Calais 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% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,208±$25k 30% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% 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±$27kLowest 15% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$407Lowest 7% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% 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 |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.2%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 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 | 2.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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 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.