Compare towns
Manchester vs Calais vs Winhall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Winhall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.7%).
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 | Manchester | Calais | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
1,713 |
752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.9±6.1 13% above VT |
| Manchester and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23kLowest 17% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$95,500±$23k 18% above VT |
| Calais and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
| Winhall and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
| Calais and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923Lowest 18% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,567 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.