Compare towns
Middlesex vs Otis 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 people working from home (28.4%).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 51).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Otis | Calais | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,624Lowest |
1,713 |
2,661Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% 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. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.5±4.9 17% above U.S. |
| Otis 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% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest 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% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis 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% |
39.2%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% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.8 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. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$106,989±$22k 33% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$422,700±$35kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Ferrisburgh and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Lowest 7% 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. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below 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% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Ferrisburgh 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% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% 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. |
1974 6 yrs older 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. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Farmington River Reg | 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 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.