Compare towns
Middlesex vs Bellows Falls 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%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Montpelier has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Bellows Falls | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,891 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% 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%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Middlesex 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% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls 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 |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$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 |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% 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 |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Montpelier 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% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
53.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.