Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Reading vs Sutton
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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,943Highest |
699Lowest |
790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Reading and Sutton 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 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% |
32.8%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% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% 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 |
— |
| 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% 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% |
37.8%±31.1 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% 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% |
11.6%±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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.