Compare towns
Middlesex vs Essex 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%).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Essex | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
11,516Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
42.4±1.9 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Essex 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% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
| Essex 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±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Essex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Lowest 29% above VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Essex 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% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.