Compare towns

Windham vs Putney vs Calais vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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.

MeasureWindhamPutneyCalaisWorcester
People
Population
594Lowest
2,622Highest
1,713
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
42±8.6
about the VT average
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%
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Calais and Windham 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
53%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$100,625±$27kHighest
24% above 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
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above 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 —
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
Calais and Worcester 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
$5,313
5% above VT
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1
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
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #32 of 70 in VT — —
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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.