Compare towns
Worcester vs Milton vs Calais vs Elmore
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).
Milton has the highest household income ($119k).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Milton | Calais | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
10,769Highest |
1,713 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Worcester and Elmore 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% |
17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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% |
16%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Milton 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 |
$372,500±$20k 18% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Calais and Milton 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 |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Milton and Calais 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 |
$5,610 11% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Calais 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% |
3.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | — | #56 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Milton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.