Compare towns
Worcester vs Sandgate vs Stowe vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Sandgate | Stowe | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
435Lowest |
5,285Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Stowe 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% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Stowe and Calais 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Stowe 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 | — | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.