Compare towns
Calais vs Castleton vs Fairfax 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 the most homeowners (92.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fairfax | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
4,453 |
5,226Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Castleton 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Fairfax and Calais 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Calais and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% 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 |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Worcester 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Fairfax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.