Compare towns
Calais vs West Windsor vs Barnard 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 youngest population (median age 42).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | West Windsor | Barnard | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,171Lowest |
1,211 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| West Windsor 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% |
19.8%±10Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard 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% |
25.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| West Windsor and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais and West Windsor 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 |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and West Windsor 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 |
$393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
| Barnard and West Windsor 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 |
$1,100±$217Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$5,860Lowest 16% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Barnard 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% |
3.7% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.