Compare towns
Windsor vs Calais vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Windsor | Calais | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,554Highest |
1,713 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,209Lowest 3% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 3% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Strafford 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.