Compare towns
Madison vs Middlesex vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% 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 | Madison | Middlesex | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Madison and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Madison and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Madison and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Madison School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.