Compare towns
Williston vs Newfane vs Calais vs Stowe
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 highest household income ($107k).
Newfane has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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 | Newfane | Calais | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,456Lowest |
1,713 |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Newfane and Stowe 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Stowe 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% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above 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±$40k 50% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,266±$238Lowest about the VT average |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,174Lowest about the VT average |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Calais 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Stowe 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.