Compare towns
Calais vs Wolcott 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%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
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 | Wolcott | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,507 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Wolcott 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% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Calais and Worcester 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 |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Calais and Wolcott 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 |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Lowest 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 | Wolcott School District | 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 History | 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.