Compare towns
Worcester vs Lowell 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).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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 | Lowell | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,070 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Worcester 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Lowell 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% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 22% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest 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 | Lowell School District | 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 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.