Compare towns
Middlesex vs Arlington vs Castleton vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k 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 | Middlesex | Arlington | Castleton | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,598 |
4,453 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest 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+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Middlesex 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.