Compare towns

Calais vs Middlesex vs Ogunquit vs Pownal

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

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.

MeasureCalaisMiddlesexOgunquitPownal
People
Population
1,713
1,943
1,379Lowest
3,265Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
49±9.1
26% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
25% above U.S.
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$64,163±$21kLowest
21% below U.S.
Ogunquit 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
17% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$256,600±$32kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
—
$944±$139Lowest
33% below U.S.
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
111% above U.S.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,560Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±18.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit 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 — — — #67 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
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

U.S. 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.