Compare towns
Worcester vs Richmond vs Strafford 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).
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Richmond | Strafford | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
4,159Highest |
1,372 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Worcester 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 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 |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Strafford and Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Richmond and Strafford 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 |
— | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Strafford 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Strafford 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.