Compare towns
Calais vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Worcester | Middlesex | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
831Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest 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% |
53% 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% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Worcester 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.