Compare towns
Middlesex vs Bedford vs Montpelier
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 most homeowners (96.7%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Bedford | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
23,746Highest |
8,014 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford 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% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montpelier 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$375,100±$21kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,302±$113Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Bedford 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bedford School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.