Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Windham vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Wardsboro | Windham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820 |
594Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
— | $1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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.