Compare towns
Westford vs Middlesex vs Cornwall vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has the most renters (13.9% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Cornwall has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Westford | Middlesex | Cornwall | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,290Highest |
1,943 |
1,208Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 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+ | 17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
| Cornwall and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Cornwall and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,282Lowest 25% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.