Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Royalton 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%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.
| Measure | Waitsfield | Royalton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
2,752Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest 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%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Royalton 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% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Royalton and Calais 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 |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Calais 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 |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% 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 | $6,208 23% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | White River Unified School District #79 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.