Compare towns

Middletown Springs vs Calais vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
Reading has the most renters (15.1% rent).

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.

MeasureMiddletown SpringsCalaisReading
People
Population
747
1,713Highest
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.2±5.1
14% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
Reading and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Middletown Springs and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.5
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Calais and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,000±$12kLowest
about the VT average
$100,625±$27kHighest
24% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,200±$24kLowest
17% below VT
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$438
about the VT average
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
Calais and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,595Lowest
9% below VT
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.4%
VT: 73.2%
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
16% above VT
31 min
32% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
15.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.