Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Calais vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 74.8).
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 | Waitsfield | Calais | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Highest |
1,713 |
193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
| Calais and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
— |
| Calais and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208 23% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,688Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 | 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.