Compare towns
Middlesex vs Sheffield vs Sheffield 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%).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
Sheffield has the most renters (16.3% rent).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k 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 | Sheffield | Sheffield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
190Lowest |
573 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT |
42±8 about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Sheffield 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% |
34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Calais 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% |
13.2%±14Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 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% |
16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Sheffield 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 |
$65,795±$12k 19% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% 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 |
$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT |
$171,900±$50k 46% 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 |
$1,219±$563 about the VT average |
$967±$79Lowest 22% 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 |
$1,714Lowest 66% below VT |
$2,123 58% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield 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% |
8.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±6.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.