Overview
Caledonia County occupies the northeast corner of Vermont, in the region locals call the Northeast Kingdom. With 30,425 residents (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), it's one of the smaller and more rural counties in a state that's mostly rural to begin with. The economic numbers here are lower than the Vermont average across the board, but the county holds its own on employment and certain health indicators.
Median household income was $66,075 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), placing Caledonia in the lower tier for both the state and nation. Unemployment is among the lowest in the country at 2.7% (BLS LAUS, Annual 2025). Those two data points together suggest a tight labor market that doesn't pay particularly well.
The county seat is St. Johnsbury, a small city that serves as the commercial and civic center for the surrounding towns. The Northeast Kingdom carries a reputation for cold winters, sparse services, and independent-minded residents, and the data supports at least the first two parts of that description.
Demographics
The median age of 45.6 years (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) puts Caledonia among older counties nationally, higher than 80% of U.S. counties. Vermont's demographic trend runs old statewide, and Caledonia follows the pattern.
The county is 92.6% white, with Hispanic residents at 2.1%, Black residents at 0.7%, and Native American residents at 0.2% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). It's among the most racially homogeneous counties in the country.
The poverty rate is 12.2% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), which is roughly at the national median. About 31.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), which is higher than 81% of U.S. counties but below the Vermont average. The average commute is 21 minutes (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023).
Education
Per-pupil spending of $24,945 (Education Data Portal, 2020) is notably high, ranking higher than 93% of counties nationally. Vermont's school funding formula distributes money relatively evenly across districts, and smaller, lower-enrollment districts like those in Caledonia often end up with high per-pupil figures as a result.
The student-teacher ratio is 12.4 students per teacher (Education Data Portal, 2021), which is lower than about 73% of U.S. counties. Smaller class sizes are one tangible benefit of rural schooling here.
Total enrollment is 4,336 students (Education Data Portal, 2021). The graduation rate was 83.2% (Education Data Portal, 2019), which is below the national average but stronger than Bennington County to the south.
Economy & Employment
The labor force totals 15,654 workers with 430 unemployed (BLS LAUS, Annual 2025). The 2.7% unemployment rate is lower than about 88% of U.S. counties. Finding work in Caledonia County isn't the problem; the issue is what that work pays.
Median household income of $66,075 and per capita income of $38,153 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) both rank in the lower half nationally. Per capita income is higher than 72% of counties, which suggests the county isn't as economically marginal as it might appear at first glance. A modest cost of living helps.
The poverty rate of 12.2% is close to the national average (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Vermont's safety net programs moderate hardship here.
Housing & Cost of Living
Median home value in Caledonia County is $215,900 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), which is higher than 66% of U.S. counties but toward the lower end for Vermont. Median gross rent of $904 per month (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) is relatively affordable by regional standards, higher than 59% of counties.
The home-value-to-income ratio of 3.3x (derived) is manageable, among the more affordable housing markets in Vermont. Rent runs 16.4% of household income (derived), well below the 30% threshold that signals financial strain.
The vacancy rate of 19.9% reflects some seasonal housing, with 3,207 units vacant out of 16,084 total (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). That's elevated but not as extreme as some Vermont counties with larger ski or recreation markets.
Health & Wellness
Depression affects 28.3% of Caledonia County adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), which is higher than about 89% of counties nationally. That's a persistent pattern across the Northeast Kingdom and Vermont's rural counties generally.
Obesity affects 31.1% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), lower than about 91% of U.S. counties. Diabetes affects 7.7% (CDC PLACES, 2023), lower than 98% of counties. High blood pressure stands at 28.7% (CDC PLACES, 2023), also low by national standards.
The uninsured rate of 7.1% is low, placing the county in the bottom 6% nationally for lack of coverage (CDC PLACES, 2023). Vermont's health coverage programs keep the uninsured population small.
Poor mental health days were reported by 19.0% of adults in the prior 30-day period (CDC PLACES, 2023), and poor physical health days by 12.5%. The gap between the depression figure and the chronic disease numbers is notable: the county looks healthy on physical measures but carries a heavy mental health burden.
Climate & Natural Disasters
The annual average temperature is 43.8°F, with average highs of 54.2°F and average lows of 33.2°F (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025). Annual precipitation is 35 inches. Annual snowfall averages 120.2 inches, which places Caledonia in the top tier nationally for snow accumulation, higher than 98% of U.S. counties.
FEMA has logged 31 federal disaster declarations for Caledonia County (FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026), placing it higher than 88% of counties nationally for disaster frequency. Eight of those declarations came since 2020. The breakdown includes 12 severe storms, 12 floods, 3 hurricanes, 2 biological events, 1 tropical storm, and 1 severe ice storm (derived).
The most recent declaration was a flood in September 2024. Summer 2023 brought both a major disaster declaration and an emergency declaration for flooding in July. This county's disaster history is dominated by water, seasonal snow, and the occasional Atlantic storm remnant.
Financial Profile
IRS data for 2021 shows 15,490 tax returns filed with total adjusted gross income of approximately $963 million (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021). Average AGI was $62,171, roughly at the national median.
FDIC data shows 11 bank branches with $678.7 million in total deposits (FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023). Relative to Caledonia's population, that's a reasonable level of banking access, with deposits higher than about 58% of counties nationally.
Social Security covers 8,440 beneficiaries (SSA OASDI, 2024), representing 27.7% of the population (derived). That's a substantial share, in line with the older age profile.
Key Comparisons
Caledonia County runs below Vermont and national averages on income, which is the clearest story in the data. The education spending is high and class sizes are small, but graduation rates don't match. The health picture is better than expected for a rural low-income county, with very low diabetes and obesity rates, though depression prevalence remains high.
Against Vermont peers, Caledonia ranks 14th out of Vermont's counties on household income, meaning it's toward the bottom of the state. Per capita income sits lower than about 86% of U.S. counties in the state as well. The county benefits from low housing costs relative to its income level, which offsets some of the wage gap.
The 120.2 inches of annual snowfall is real. It's not a complaint filed with the data portal, but it shapes life here in ways no other metric captures.
Data Sources
- Census ACS 5-Year, 2023
- BLS LAUS, Annual 2025
- CDC PLACES, 2023
- FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026
- IRS Statistics of Income, 2021
- FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023
- NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025
- SSA OASDI, 2024
- Education Data Portal, 2021 (directory); 2020 (finance); 2019 (graduation rate)