Compare towns
Calais vs Dorset vs Williston vs Middlesex
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).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Calais | Dorset | Williston | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,092 |
10,144Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
| Williston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.