Compare towns
Brookfield vs Calais vs Ferrisburgh vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Brookfield | Calais | Ferrisburgh | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Lowest |
1,713 |
2,661Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Brookfield and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest 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+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Lowest 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 | $98,500±$23kLowest 21% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kLowest 7% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 | — | — | #7 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | 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.