Compare towns
Calais vs Williston 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
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Middlesex | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,943 |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest 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%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Williston 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,317±$126Lowest 7% above VT |
| Williston and Calais 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 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.