Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Norwich
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
3,640Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Calais 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% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Calais 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
| Norwich 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 |
$6,483Lowest 29% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Norwich 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Norwich School District |
| 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 |
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.