Compare towns
Middlesex vs Montgomery vs Worcester 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%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Montgomery | Worcester | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
1,047 |
831Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Worcester 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% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
52.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Worcester 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 |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| 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 19% above VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above 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 |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% 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 |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Calais 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% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.