Compare towns
Middlesex vs Brookfield vs Monkton 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Brookfield | Monkton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,486Lowest |
1,999Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
47.1±5.4Highest 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Monkton and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest 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±$13k 35% above VT |
$98,500±$23kLowest 21% above VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Monkton 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 19% above VT |
$339,300±$15kLowest 7% above VT |
$379,900±$18k 20% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Monkton 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 |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,301±$120 5% above VT |
$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 |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,887 17% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Monkton 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.