Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Halifax 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 expensive homes ($390k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Dummerston | Halifax | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,090Highest |
847 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Halifax 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Calais and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Calais and Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Halifax School District | 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.