Compare towns
Westford vs Calais vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Milton 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 | Westford | Calais | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,290 |
1,713Lowest |
10,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
| Milton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$372,500±$20kLowest 18% above VT |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
$1,536±$257 24% above VT |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,282 25% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,610Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Westford 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 | — | — | #56 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.