Compare towns
Colchester vs Middlesex vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the youngest population (median age 39.3).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Chesterfield has the most affordable homes ($143k median).
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 | Colchester | Middlesex | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,648Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.2±5.3 11% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colchester and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,891±$9k 21% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$65,278±$24kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$25kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$142,900±$49kLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Colchester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$122Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,114±$43Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Colchester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,471 75% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,071Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Colchester 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Colchester School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Colchester High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.