Compare towns
Middlesex vs Westford vs Ferrisburgh 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 highest household income ($113k).
Ferrisburgh has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Westford | Ferrisburgh | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
2,290 |
2,661Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
45.5±4.9Highest 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Ferrisburgh 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% |
17.2%±4.5 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
51.1%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% |
3%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 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±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Westford and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,435±$173 16% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Westford and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$6,120Lowest 21% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Ferrisburgh 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% |
2.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest 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 | — | — | #7 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | 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.