Compare towns
Calais vs Whitingham vs Middlesex vs Marshfield
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%).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Whitingham | Middlesex | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,368Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Whitingham 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%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,317±$126 7% 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.