Compare towns
Windsor vs Calais vs Williston
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 the most homeowners (92.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,554 |
1,713Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston 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%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 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+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Calais 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 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 | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% 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 | $207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,209Lowest 3% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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 | 7.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 3% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.