Compare towns
Middlesex vs Becket vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% 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 | Becket | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
1,962 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Becket 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Becket 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Becket 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 36% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| 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±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Becket and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Central Berkshire | 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 |
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.