Compare towns
Worcester vs Calais vs Williston
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 the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,713 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Worcester and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest 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±$27k 24% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.