Compare towns
Calais vs Dorset vs Middlesex 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 youngest population (median age 42).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Dorset | Middlesex | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,092Highest |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Calais 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset 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% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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 | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.