Compare towns

Calais vs Surry vs Windsor vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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.

MeasureCalaisSurryWindsorWorcester
People
Population
1,713
1,052
3,554Highest
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
44.7±5.1
15% above U.S.
44.8±6.5
15% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
Worcester and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±6.2
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±7
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor and Surry 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
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.6%±6.6
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
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
25% above U.S.
$110,125±$25kHighest
36% above U.S.
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
Surry 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±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$331,400±$23k
about the U.S. average
$207,500±$31kLowest
38% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
Calais and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,955±$374Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,026±$89
27% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Surry and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$6,384
105% above U.S.
$5,209
67% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±74.3
U.S.: 51.1%
31.5%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — — #61 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 12 photos → None yet

U.S. 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.