Compare towns
Belvidere vs Marshfield vs Middlesex vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Middlesex has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% 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.
| Measure | Belvidere | Marshfield | Middlesex | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
470 |
1,407Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.4±8.8 9% above U.S. |
55.3±6Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±9.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$20kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$75,750±$21k 6% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Marshfield and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$178,300±$31kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$208,100±$62k 37% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$1,125±$79 20% below U.S. |
$1,406±$672 about the U.S. average |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,269Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,459 11% above U.S. |
$3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±62.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school 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.