Compare towns
Calais vs Essex 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).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
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 | Essex | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
11,516Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±1.9 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
| Middlesex and Essex 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% |
22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Essex 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 |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
| Essex and Calais 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 |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$6,483Lowest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Essex 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% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 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 |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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 |
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.