Compare towns
Calais vs Washington vs Barnard 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).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Washington | Barnard | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,056 |
1,211 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Washington 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% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard 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% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Barnard 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% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Barnard 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 |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Washington 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% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
29 minLowest 21% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.