Compare towns
Middlesex vs Standish vs Calais vs Berlin
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%).
Standish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Standish | Calais | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
10,662Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Standish and Calais 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. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 6% below U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— | — |
| 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.