Compare towns
Middlesex vs Castleton vs Stowe 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 most people working from home (28.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
4,453 |
5,285Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Stowe 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%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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 | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.