Compare towns
Strafford vs Calais vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k 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 | Strafford | Calais | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,713Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$94,500±$12kLowest 16% above VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
— |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,951Lowest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | 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.