Compare towns
Worcester vs Calais vs Westford
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%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,713 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Westford 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% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Calais 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±$27k 24% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Calais 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±$36k 23% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 22% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.