What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k median).

Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wolcott	Calais
People
Population	1,507Lowest	1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±5.9Highest about the VT average	42±8.6Lowest about the VT average
	Wolcott and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	22.5%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Wolcott and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%
	Calais and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT	$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT
	Calais and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT	$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT	$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT
	Calais and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,930Lowest 22% below VT	$6,586Highest 31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4%	49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Wolcott and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	92.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 13% above VT	31 minHighest 32% above VT
Work from home	13.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Calais and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Wolcott School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.