Compare towns
Washington vs Calais vs Orange vs Danby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Washington | Calais | Orange | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
1,713Highest |
957Lowest |
1,133 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
| Washington and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
| Calais and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 19% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
| Calais and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.