Compare towns
Calais vs Sharon vs Windsor vs Middlesex
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 most kids (22.5% under 18).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Sharon | Windsor | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,577Lowest |
3,554Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Sharon and Windsor 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%±5 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Sharon 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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 |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above 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 |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Calais and Sharon 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 |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$5,209Lowest 3% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Windsor 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sharon School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.