Compare towns
Calais vs Waitsfield 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 highest household income ($101k).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Waitsfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,918Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest 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±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Calais and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Waitsfield 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.