Compare towns
Worcester vs Williamstown 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).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Williamstown | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
3,579Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Worcester and Williamstown 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% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest 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 |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Williamstown and Calais 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 |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.