Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Windham vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k 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 | Waitsfield | Windham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
16,038Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Calais 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Windham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.