Compare towns
Barnard vs Calais vs Middlesex vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Barnard | Calais | Middlesex | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,713 |
1,943 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% 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 | $6,038 20% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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 | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.