Compare towns
Middlesex vs Brattleboro vs Hooksett vs Calais
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%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Brattleboro | Hooksett | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
12,122 |
15,057Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro 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% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest 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% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Calais 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. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett 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. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Brattleboro 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% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.