Compare towns
Calais vs Highgate vs Williamstown 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).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Highgate | Williamstown | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
3,528 |
3,579Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Highgate 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Williamstown 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Calais 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% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Williamstown 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Williamstown and Calais 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.