Compare towns

Waitsfield vs Pomfret vs Calais

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).

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.

MeasureWaitsfieldPomfretCalais
People
Population
1,918Highest
908Lowest
1,713
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.3±5.3
about the VT average
53.4±12.1Highest
24% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
Pomfret and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.8%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4
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%
29.5%±6.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Pomfret and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
63.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
58%
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±3
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
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
$84,229±$8kLowest
4% above VT
$100,625±$27kHighest
24% above 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±$92kHighest
33% above VT
$399,200±$144k
26% above VT
$390,300±$36kLowest
23% above VT
Waitsfield and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$821
about the VT average
$1,170±$98Lowest
5% below VT
$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
$6,208Lowest
23% above VT
$6,722Highest
33% above VT
$6,586
31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.4%±30.6
VT: 48.4%
24%±22.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3Highest
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%
5.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1970Lowest
6 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
31 minHighest
32% above VT
Work from home
19%±6.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
30.3%±10.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
Pomfret 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.