Compare towns
Worcester vs Springfield vs Calais vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Springfield | Calais | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,122 |
1,713 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 19% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.