Compare towns
Windham vs Calais vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k 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 | Windham | Calais | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,713 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Windham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Calais and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Windham 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.