Compare towns
Williston vs Calais vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
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 | Williston | Calais | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,713 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.