Compare towns
Barre vs Calais vs Middlesex vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Barre | Calais | Middlesex | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
1,713 |
1,943 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $93,210±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Barre and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737 52% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Middlesex 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.