Compare towns
Calais vs Wright vs Middlesex vs Grand Isle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Wright has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Grand Isle has the most expensive homes ($399k 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 | Wright | Middlesex | Grand Isle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
1,739 |
1,943 |
2,192Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.3±2.6 11% above U.S. |
| Wright and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Wright 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 25% above U.S. |
$86,250±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$100,846±$22k 25% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Grand Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$242,000±$36kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$398,600±$33kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Grand Isle and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$953±$79Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,363±$530 4% below U.S. |
| Calais and Grand Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,279Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,453 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grand Isle and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.