Compare towns
Calais vs Mendon vs Worcester vs Elmore
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Worcester | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,113 |
831Lowest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Mendon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Calais 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Calais and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Calais and Mendon 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Calais and Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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 | 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.