Compare towns
Milton vs Calais vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
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 | Milton | Calais | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Milton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20kLowest 18% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257 24% above VT |
$1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,610Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 18% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Westford 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 | #56 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Milton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.