Compare towns
Duxbury vs Middlesex vs Waterbury vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Duxbury has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Duxbury | Middlesex | Waterbury | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,548Lowest |
1,943 |
5,405Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.5±4.4Lowest 13% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,208±$25k 30% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $364,600±$27k 15% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$407 7% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,564Highest 30% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.2%±21 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | Harwood Union Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.