Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Waterbury
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 youngest population (median age 42).
Middlesex has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury and Calais 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 |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,435Lowest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Waterbury 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% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.