Compare towns
Worcester vs Castleton vs Benson vs Calais
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 people working from home (23.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Castleton | Benson | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
4,453Highest |
784Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Benson 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Calais 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Benson 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.