Compare towns

Worcester vs Dover vs Andover 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).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureWorcesterDoverAndoverCalais
People
Population
831
1,466
616Lowest
1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±2.7
9% above VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
49.2±5.1
14% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
Dover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
11.5%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.7%±4.3
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Andover 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%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
43.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.5
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±$18k
9% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$102,500±$38kHighest
26% above VT
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
Andover 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
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$382,900±$68k
21% above VT
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above VT
Calais and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,389±$364
13% above VT
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
Calais and Andover 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
$4,510
10% below VT
$5,190
about the VT average
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
69.4%±47.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
Andover 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%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.8%
VT: 73.2%
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
same as VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
22% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
25 min
7% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.6%±12.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
Andover and Worcester 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 River Valleys Unified School District #73 — 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 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.