Compare towns
Barnard vs Middleton vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Barnard | Middleton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
9,816Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middleton 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 21% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | — | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Middleton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.