Compare towns
Springfield vs Worcester vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
831Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Worcester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest 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 | $66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above 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 | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.