Compare towns

Middlesex vs Newfane vs Calais vs Ferrisburgh

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 homeowners (96.7%).
Newfane has the most affordable homes ($284k 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.

MeasureMiddlesexNewfaneCalaisFerrisburgh
People
Population
1,943
1,456Lowest
1,713
2,661Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
54.4±3.9Highest
26% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
45.5±4.9
6% above VT
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±4.5
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%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
23.3%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
Newfane 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%
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
51.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
3%±2.8
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±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
$106,989±$22k
32% above VT
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
19% above VT
$284,200±$49kLowest
10% below VT
$390,300±$36k
23% above VT
$422,700±$35kHighest
34% above VT
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±$359
8% above VT
$1,266±$238Lowest
about the VT average
$1,408±$392
14% above VT
$1,435±$173Highest
16% above VT
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
29% above VT
$5,174Lowest
about the VT average
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$6,120
21% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
57%±19.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Ferrisburgh and Newfane 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%
10.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
85.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% above VT
27 minLowest
13% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
14.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72A 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 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.