Compare towns
Middlesex vs Brookline vs Westminster 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).
Brookline has the most renters (15.1% rent).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Brookline | Westminster | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
531Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 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 |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% 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 |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Brookline 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
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| 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.