Compare towns
Worcester vs Dummerston vs Bolton 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).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Dummerston | Bolton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,163 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Bolton and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,826 4% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 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 |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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.