1st Advantage MortgageThe median Caledonia County household earns $69,970, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. For a Caledonia County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Vermont license.
On this page
- A quick profile of Caledonia County
- Work, industries and travel time in Caledonia County
- Caledonia County's most unusual numbers
- The Caledonia County housing market in figures
- Paychecks and income spread in Caledonia County
- St. Johnsbury and the rest of Caledonia County
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Debt-to-income at Caledonia County's medians
- People and households in Caledonia County
- Local borrowing considerations for Caledonia County
- A Caledonia County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Caledonia County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Caledonia County
Caledonia County is home to about 30,475 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 9th most populous of 14 county-level areas in Vermont. It covers 649 square miles of land, or about 47 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Caledonia County is not part of any metropolitan area. St. Johnsbury (5,859 people) heads the county's list of 21 Census places, 9 incorporated and 12 census-designated.
Work, industries and travel time in Caledonia County
Education and health care employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Compared with Vermont, the county leans toward construction (10% against 8%). Unemployment in Caledonia County, ACS five-year: 2.2%; Vermont: 3.6%. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Caledonia County workers | vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.2% | +1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.2% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.5% | -3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.1% | -2.8 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Caledonia County's most unusual numbers
Out of every Vermont county, Caledonia County is most unusual on these measures.
- The ACS unemployment rate: 2.2% in Caledonia County, the lowest of 14 in Vermont. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
- On households without a vehicle, Caledonia County sits near the top of Vermont at 6.7%, 3rd highest of 14. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
- Median household income: $69,970 in Caledonia County. Only 2 of 14 Vermont counties are lower. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
The Caledonia County housing market in figures
A typical Caledonia County rental runs $920 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Vermont. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 48% in Caledonia County, 48% statewide. Median value $227,900; median income $69,970; ratio 3.3. 79% of Caledonia County households own their home and 21% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1973. Against the median U.S. county, Caledonia County rent is 5% above.
| Caledonia County | Vermont | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 79% | 73% | +6.0 pts |
| Median home value | $227,900 | $316,600 | 28% lower |
| Median gross rent | $920/mo | $1,234/mo | 25% lower |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 29% | -2.3 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 48% | -0.8 pts |
| Vacant units | 19% | 19% | -0.3 pts |
Caledonia County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Paychecks and income spread in Caledonia County
The median household income in Caledonia County is $69,970; statewide it is $81,203, so Caledonia County runs 14% below Vermont as a whole. Only 11 Vermont counties post a higher median.
| Band | Caledonia County | Compared with Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.7% | +3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.8% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -3.4 pts |
Six-figure households (34%) outnumber those under $35,000 (24%) in Caledonia County. Caledonia County counts about 3,573 residents below the poverty line, 11.7% of the population. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Caledonia County median.
St. Johnsbury and the rest of Caledonia County
Places, by size: the top 14 of 21. Roughly 42% of Caledonia County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $72,161, Waterford over Hardwick. Rent is cheapest in Hardwick ($821) and steepest in Newark ($1,708). Live in one of these Caledonia County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Johnsbury | CDP | 5,859 | $53,711 | $912 | 6 mi |
| Lyndonville | CDP | 1,408 | $54,722 | $1,075 | 7 mi |
| Burke | town | 1,317 | $87,143 | $938 | 13 mi |
| Waterford | town | 1,279 | $109,375 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Ryegate | town | 1,059 | $66,484 | $908 | 17 mi |
| Hardwick | CDP | 1,046 | $37,214 | $821 | 13 mi |
| Walden | town | 1,037 | $88,000 | $900 | 6 mi |
| Kirby | town | 756 | $54,792 | $1,250 | 10 mi |
| Newark | town | 727 | $72,929 | $1,708 | 20 mi |
| Wheelock | town | 717 | $64,792 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Groton | CDP | 430 | $72,917 | $288 | 18 mi |
| Danville | CDP | 401 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Lyndon Center | CDP | 291 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Peacham | CDP | 237 | n/a | $832 | 10 mi |
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Essex County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Grafton County, is 40 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Caledonia County; Grafton County is highest at $88,261 and Essex County lowest at $59,294. Some neighbors are in New Hampshire. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Caledonia County resident follows Vermont rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caledonia County | - | $69,970 | $920/mo | 79% |
| Essex County, VT | 26 mi | $59,294 | $827/mo | 82% |
| Orleans County, VT | 26 mi | $70,103 | $892/mo | 80% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 27 mi | $74,908 | $1,160/mo | 73% |
| Washington County, VT | 28 mi | $83,449 | $1,163/mo | 74% |
| Orange County, VT | 35 mi | $82,232 | $1,173/mo | 83% |
| Grafton County, NH | 40 mi | $88,261 | $1,301/mo | 71% |
Debt-to-income at Caledonia County's medians
Here is the Caledonia County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $69,970 a year is $5,831 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $920, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,412 a month
If your rent is above $920, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Caledonia County
33% of Caledonia County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Caledonia County | Compared with Vermont | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | +2.9 yrs | +4.5 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.2% | -10.5 pts | +11.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | +1.2 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | 0.0 pts | -3.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | +0.5 pts | +1.3 pts |
| Work from home | 15.1% | -1.9 pts | +6.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | +1.7 pts | -1.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | -1.4 pts | -2.2 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Caledonia County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.8% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Caledonia County
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.0, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- 48% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Caledonia County borrower sees (free reports).
A Caledonia County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Caledonia County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for Caledonia County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Caledonia County resident can confirm its license with the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. If a Caledonia County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. The Vermont page has statewide figures to set beside Caledonia County's.
Nearby and statewide guides
Next step up from Caledonia County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Caledonia County earn?
The median is $69,970; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Can a Caledonia County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $920 median rent and $5,831 median monthly income, rent alone uses 16%; add other debts before a new payment.
Can Caledonia County owners borrow against a $227,900 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
I live near St. Johnsbury. Which guide is mine?
This one. St. Johnsbury and the rest of Caledonia County have no separate city guide.
Will a Caledonia County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Vermont as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.