Compare towns
Calais vs Grafton 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%).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Grafton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
666Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Grafton 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 |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Grafton 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 |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Calais and Grafton 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 |
$1,288±$174 4% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Calais and Grafton 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 |
$4,843 4% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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 | Athens Grafton 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.