Compare towns
Worcester vs Westminster vs Middlesex 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 renters (14.1% rent).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Westminster | Middlesex | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,943 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% 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 |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.