Compare towns
Westford vs Starksboro 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).
Starksboro has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Starksboro | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,290Highest |
1,939 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| 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% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Calais 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% |
17.4%±2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Starksboro 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% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$82,188±$15kLowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% 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 |
$1,306±$91Lowest 6% above 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest 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% |
91.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
29 minLowest 24% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.