Compare towns
Middlesex vs Wright vs Waterbury 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Wright has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Wright | Waterbury | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,739 |
5,405Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Wright 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% |
16.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Waterbury 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% |
21.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Wright 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% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 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. |
$86,250±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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. |
$242,000±$36kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Waterbury 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 6% below U.S. |
$953±$79Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535 27% 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. |
$5,279Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Waterbury 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.