Compare towns
Worcester vs Dorset vs Middlesex 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Dorset | Middlesex | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,092Highest |
1,943 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Worcester and Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Calais 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.