Compare towns
Middlesex vs Danielson vs Calais vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Montpelier has the shortest commute (18 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 | Danielson | Calais | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
4,209 |
1,713Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montpelier 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Calais 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 36% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| 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 6% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.