Compare towns
Worcester vs Lima vs Calais vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Lima has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Lima | Calais | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,064 |
1,713 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
36.6±5.7Lowest 6% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lima 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$69,420±$18kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Calais and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$203,300±$19kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$830±$177Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,884 89% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±24.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lima 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.