Compare towns
Calais vs Proctor vs Putney 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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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 | Proctor | Putney | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,794 |
2,622Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Putney 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Calais and Proctor 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 |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.