Compare towns
Worcester vs Stowe vs Calais vs Middlesex
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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Stowe | Calais | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
5,285Highest |
1,713 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Worcester and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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 |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 14% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% 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 | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.