Compare towns

Middlesex vs Westford vs Elmore 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%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Elmore has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexWestfordElmoreCalais
People
Population
1,943
2,290Highest
964Lowest
1,713
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+1.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
44.1±8.6
about the VT average
45±3.5Highest
4% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
Elmore 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
VT: 17.9%
16.9%±4.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.4%±9.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4
VT: 17.9%
Elmore 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%
17.2%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
14.6%±2.6Lowest
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%
52.3%
VT: 43.8%
47.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
9.5%±4.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4
VT: 7%
Westford 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±$13k
35% above VT
$112,750±$12kHighest
39% above VT
$98,750±$24kLowest
22% 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
$424,500±$21kHighest
34% above VT
$315,800±$47kLowest
about the VT average
$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
$2,375±$1kHighest
92% above VT
$1,225±$263Lowest
about the VT average
$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
$6,282
25% above VT
$5,066Lowest
about the VT average
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
29.8%±31
VT: 48.4%
31.8%±65.8
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Calais and Elmore 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%
2.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
3.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.8%
VT: 73.2%
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
17% above VT
33 minHighest
42% above VT
29 min
25% above VT
31 min
32% above VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.1%±6.9
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.3Lowest
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 Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 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.