Compare towns
Worcester vs Sheldon vs Calais vs Windham
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).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Sheldon | Calais | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
2,267Highest |
1,713 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Windham 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Calais and Windham 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Calais and Windham 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
— |
| Calais and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Windham 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 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.