Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Reading vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Calais | Middlesex | Reading | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,943 |
699Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Calais 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Calais and Reading 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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.