Compare towns
Middlesex vs Orange vs Orwell 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%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Orwell has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Orange | Orwell | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
957Lowest |
1,294 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Orange and Orwell 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% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Orwell 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 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±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% 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 |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above 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 |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 History | 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.