Compare towns
Pawlet vs Calais vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
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 | Pawlet | Calais | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
1,713Highest |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Calais and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Calais and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.