Compare towns
Worcester vs Calais vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Brookline has the most renters (15.1% rent).
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 | Worcester | Calais | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
1,713Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest 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 | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.