Compare towns
Calais vs Fair Haven 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%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Fair Haven | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,724Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% 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%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest 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±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Calais and Worcester 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Calais and Worcester 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 |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.