Compare towns
Middlesex vs Castleton vs Calais vs Ferrisburgh
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Castleton | Calais | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
4,453Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,661 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.5±4.9Highest 6% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
| 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±$40k 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh 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 |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
| 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 29% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ferrisburgh 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.