Compare towns
Worcester vs Sheldon vs Middlebury 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,267 |
9,175Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% 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%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 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% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Middlebury 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Middlebury 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Middlebury and Calais 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 |
$1,156±$113 6% below 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.