Compare towns
Middlesex vs Arlington vs Montpelier
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% 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 | Middlesex | Arlington | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,598 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Lowest 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 | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Arlington School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.