Compare towns
Calais vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Calais | Braintree | Castleton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,026 |
4,453Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.