Compare towns
Middlesex vs Berkley 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 most affordable homes ($376k median).
Berkley has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Berkley | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
6,829Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.4±4.1 12% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Berkley 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% |
21.2%±5.4Lowest 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Berkley 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. |
$144,205±$49kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$511,200±$45kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| 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 108% above U.S. |
$6,018Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex 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% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | #155 of 282 in MA | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Berkley | 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.