Compare towns
Middlesex vs Whitman vs Calais vs Ferrisburgh
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%).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ferrisburgh has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Whitman | Calais | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
15,295Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,661 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
45.5±4.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest 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% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.8Lowest 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. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$106,989±$22k 33% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$422,700±$35k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,435±$173 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,824Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,120 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±4.2 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Whitman-Hanson | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.