Compare towns
Middlesex vs Duxbury 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%).
Duxbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Duxbury | Calais | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,548Lowest |
1,713 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.5±4.4Lowest 13% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin 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% |
17.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
13%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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% |
58.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.5%±3.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Duxbury 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 |
$105,208±$25k 30% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Duxbury 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 |
$364,600±$27k 15% 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 |
$1,318±$407 7% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 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 |
$6,564 30% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
21.2%±21 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 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 |
23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Harwood Union Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.