Compare towns
Worcester vs Williston vs Elmore 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Williston | Elmore | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
10,144Highest |
964 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Worcester and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Calais 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Williston 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.