Compare towns
Worcester vs Fairfax 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).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Fairfax | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
5,226Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Calais 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%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Fairfax 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 |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Fairfax 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 |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Fairfax 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 |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Fairfax 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 22% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fairfax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.