Compare towns
Starksboro vs Calais vs Burke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starksboro has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Burke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Starksboro | Calais | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,939Highest |
1,713 |
1,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
| Calais and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Burke and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$15kLowest about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$87,143±$17k 7% above VT |
| Calais and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$340,600±$18k 8% above VT |
| Calais and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$91 6% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
| Calais and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,177 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.