Compare towns
Middlesex vs Arlington vs Cabot vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k 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 | Middlesex | Arlington | Cabot | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
2,598Highest |
1,579Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest 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 | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$268,500±$77kLowest 15% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
$1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% 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 | $6,483 29% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Middlesex 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Arlington School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.