Compare towns
Middlesex vs Sullivan vs Berlin vs Calais
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%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 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 | Sullivan | Berlin | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,246Lowest |
2,880Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47.1±15 21% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Sullivan 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% |
18%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest 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% |
22.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Sullivan 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% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest 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. |
$59,643±$14kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$222,000±$33kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above 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. |
$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$2,228Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Berlin 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% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 24 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
— | — |
| 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.