Compare towns
Calais vs Lowell 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%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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 | Lowell | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,070 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% 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%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Calais 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% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Lowell 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% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest 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 | Lowell 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 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.