Compare towns

Calais vs Brooklyn vs Middlesex

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
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.

MeasureCalaisBrooklynMiddlesex
People
Population
1,713Lowest
8,517Highest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
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+
21.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$96,207±$15kLowest
19% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above 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
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above 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
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% 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
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
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 — #113 of 149 in CT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Brooklyn School District 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.