Compare towns
Calais vs Castleton vs Bennington 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%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Castleton | Bennington | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
4,453 |
15,249Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
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| 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.