Compare towns
Middlesex vs Calais vs Peru
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%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Calais | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
1,713 |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT |
| Peru 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Peru 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest 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 |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru 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±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
| Peru 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 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.