Compare towns

Worcester vs Bath vs Calais vs Stowe

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterBathCalaisStowe
People
Population
831Lowest
1,097
1,713
5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
48.6±8.6Highest
25% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
46.3±7.6
19% above U.S.
Bath and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bath and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$67,813±$22kLowest
16% below U.S.
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
Calais and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$234,400±$23kLowest
30% below U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,438±$309
about the U.S. average
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,458±$242Highest
3% above U.S.
Stowe and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$4,413Lowest
41% above U.S.
$6,586
111% above U.S.
$7,161Highest
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
5.9%±61.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
26 min
3% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stowe and Worcester 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 Bath School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.