Compare towns
Bennington vs Calais vs Middlesex vs Hoosick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hoosick has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Bennington | Calais | Middlesex | Hoosick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
6,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.9±5.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Hoosick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$63,372±$21k 22% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$177,200±$21kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$881±$148Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,071Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — | #62 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.