Compare towns
Calais vs Ferrisburgh vs Middlesex vs Peru
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).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Middlesex | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,661Highest |
1,943 |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±4.9Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Peru 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% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest 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 |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru 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 |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Peru 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 |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais 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 |
$6,120 21% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais 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% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest 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 | — | #7 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | 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 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.