Compare towns
East Montpelier vs Wilder vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Montpelier has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | East Montpelier | Wilder | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,612 |
3,087Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±4Highest 8% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| East Montpelier and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,778±$21k 14% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,700±$32k 20% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,187±$131 4% below VT |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,868 16% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.3%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.2%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and East Montpelier 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 | #15 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | U-32 Middle & High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.