Compare towns
Calais vs Cornish vs Putney vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Cornish | Putney | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,816 |
2,622Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Calais and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Calais and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Cornish School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.