Compare towns
Middlesex vs Barton vs Worcester 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%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Barton | Worcester | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
730Lowest |
831 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Waterbury 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% |
21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 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 |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% 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 |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Waterbury 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% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 | 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.