Compare towns
Middlesex vs Wilder vs Clarendon 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%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Clarendon has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Clarendon | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
3,087Highest |
2,460 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Clarendon and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 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%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon and Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 35% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| 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 19% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| 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 8% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,096±$305Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| 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 29% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mill River Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
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| 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.