Compare towns
Middlesex vs Cornwall vs Braintree 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%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Cornwall | Braintree | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
1,208 |
1,026Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest 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%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Cornwall 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest 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±$13k 35% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Cornwall 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±$40k 19% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Calais 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 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.