Compare towns
Middlesex vs Belvidere vs Calais vs Berlin
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 most people working from home (28.4%).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Belvidere | Calais | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
422Lowest |
1,713 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Calais 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% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 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 |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above 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 | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% 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 | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
| Belvidere and Calais 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| 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 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.