Compare towns
Middlesex vs Chittenden vs Calais vs Berlin
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%).
Chittenden has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Chittenden | Calais | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,318Lowest |
1,713 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Chittenden and Berlin 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% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 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% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Chittenden 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% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 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 |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Chittenden 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 |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below 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 |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below 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 |
$5,346 6% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Berlin 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.