Compare towns
Worcester vs West Fairlee vs Windham 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 most people working from home (23.6%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | West Fairlee | Windham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
711 |
594Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| West Fairlee 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 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Windham 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% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% 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±$27k 14% below VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% 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 |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and West Fairlee 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 |
$5,210 3% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Calais 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | 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.