Compare towns
Middlesex vs Putney vs Westford 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Putney | Westford | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
2,622Highest |
2,290 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Westford 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex 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 |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Calais 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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.