Compare towns
Middlesex vs Norwich vs Wardsboro
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 people working from home (28.4%).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
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 | Norwich | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
3,640Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich 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 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Norwich 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 35% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Norwich 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Norwich School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 |
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.