Compare towns
Westford vs Chester vs Calais
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 highest household income ($113k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Westford | Chester | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,290 |
2,992Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Calais 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 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±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Westford and Calais 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Westford and Calais 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Westford 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.