Compare towns

Middlesex vs Heath vs Calais vs Ferrisburgh

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 most homeowners (96.7%).
Heath has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k 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.

MeasureMiddlesexHeathCalaisFerrisburgh
People
Population
1,943
765Lowest
1,713
2,661Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
53.8±11.9Highest
38% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
45.5±4.9
17% above U.S.
Heath and Ferrisburgh 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%
13.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±4.5
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%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.6%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Heath and Ferrisburgh 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%
46.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
36% above U.S.
$98,750±$23kLowest
22% above U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$106,989±$22k
33% above U.S.
Middlesex and Ferrisburgh 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.
$295,000±$45kLowest
11% below U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$422,700±$35kHighest
27% above U.S.
Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Lowest
6% below U.S.
—
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,435±$173Highest
about the U.S. average
Ferrisburgh and Calais 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.
$4,438Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$6,120
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
57%±19.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7
U.S.: 15.1%
31.7%±17.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
14.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Heath and Middlesex 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 — — — #7 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54
High school 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

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.