Compare towns
Worcester vs Charlotte vs Calais vs Windham
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).
Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% 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 | Charlotte | Calais | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
3,916Highest |
1,713 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Charlotte 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% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Charlotte 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% |
22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Charlotte 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% |
66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Charlotte 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 |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
— |
| Charlotte 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 |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Calais 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% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte and Worcester 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 | — | #3 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 | 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.