Compare towns
South Barre vs Middlesex vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Barre has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | South Barre | Middlesex | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,346Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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+ | 11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $78,050±$16kLowest 4% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above 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 | $257,600±$25kLowest 19% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above 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 | $1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| South Barre and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±40.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 36% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.