Compare towns
Athens vs Calais vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Worcester has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Athens | Calais | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,713Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Athens and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Calais and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.