Compare towns
Calais vs Chester vs Middlesex vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Calais | Chester | Middlesex | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,992Highest |
1,943 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Chester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Barnard 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 VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest 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 | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% 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 | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.