Compare towns
Calais vs Northfield vs Windham 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 kids (22.5% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 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 | Northfield | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
5,920Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Windham 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% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Windham 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% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Calais and Windham 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Calais and Windham 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 |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.