Compare towns
Worcester vs Franklin 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 oldest population (median age 47).
Franklin has the most renters (25.3% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Franklin | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,590 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 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% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest 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% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Calais 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 |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Worcester 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 |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Franklin 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Lowest 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | 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 |
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.