Compare towns
Barnard vs Middlesex vs Stockbridge vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Stockbridge has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Barnard | Middlesex | Stockbridge | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,943Highest |
791Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Stockbridge and Barnard 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
35%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$77,109±$12kLowest 5% below 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 | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$283,500±$26kLowest 10% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Barnard and Calais 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,140±$126Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,488Lowest 11% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Stockbridge and Calais 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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.