What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).

Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peacham	Calais
People
Population	887Lowest	1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT	42±8.6Lowest about the VT average
	Peacham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±6Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Calais and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4%	21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±4Lowest VT: 7%	7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%
	Calais and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,000±$28kLowest 11% above VT	$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT
	Calais and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT	$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT
	Calais and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT	$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT
	Calais and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,605Lowest 11% above VT	$6,586Highest 31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4%	49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Peacham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	92.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 same as VT	1976 same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 31% above VT	31 minHighest 32% above VT
Work from home	24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9%	23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Peacham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Peacham School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.