Compare towns
Calais vs Fairlee 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%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Fairlee | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,066 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Calais and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.