Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Hardwick 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%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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 | Dummerston | Hardwick | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,090 |
2,965Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Hardwick 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Dummerston 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% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 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 |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% 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±$406Lowest 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 |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Hardwick 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
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| 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.