Compare towns
Williston vs Calais vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 43% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| 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 79% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.