Compare towns
Middlesex vs Biddeford vs Calais vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k 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 | Biddeford | Calais | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
22,498Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,661 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
45.5±4.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Ferrisburgh 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±4.5 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+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ferrisburgh 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Biddeford and Calais 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 36% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$106,989±$22k 33% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$422,700±$35kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Ferrisburgh and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,435±$173Highest about the U.S. average |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,120 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±19.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±4.2 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #111 of 133 in ME | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Biddeford Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.1 |
— | — |
| 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.