Compare towns
Calais vs Dover vs Middlesex vs Windham
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 most kids (22.5% under 18).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Calais | Dover | Middlesex | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,466 |
1,943Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Dover 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 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 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+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Windham 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% 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±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% 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 | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below 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 | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Windham 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 | 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.