Compare towns
Calais vs Sharon vs Strafford 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 youngest population (median age 42).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Sharon | Strafford | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,577 |
1,372 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Strafford 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 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±$27k 24% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Strafford and Calais 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 |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Calais and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Strafford 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.