Compare towns
Worcester vs Dover vs Whiting 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 oldest population (median age 53.5).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Dover | Whiting | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
1,466 |
532Lowest |
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 |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Dover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%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% |
6.2%±4 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Dover 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 |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Whiting 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$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% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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.