Compare towns
Brighton vs Calais vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Brighton | Calais | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
1,713 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Brighton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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 | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% 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 | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | 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 Our Story | 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.