Compare towns
Windham vs Calais vs Sheldon vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Windham | Calais | Sheldon | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,713 |
2,267Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 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 | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Calais and Windham 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Calais and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 | 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.