Compare towns

Middlesex vs Ogunquit vs Barre 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 homeowners (96.7%).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
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.

MeasureMiddlesexOgunquitBarreWaterbury
People
Population
1,943
1,379Lowest
8,005Highest
5,405
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
48.4±4.2
24% above U.S.
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.3
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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.7%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Ogunquit 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.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$93,210±$9kLowest
15% above U.S.
$103,917±$23k
29% above U.S.
Ogunquit 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±$40k
13% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$281,400±$13kLowest
15% below U.S.
$447,200±$40k
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
—
$1,524±$399Highest
8% above U.S.
$1,027±$535Lowest
27% below U.S.
Barre 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.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$4,737
52% above U.S.
$6,435
106% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±20.4
U.S.: 51.1%
46.8%±21.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Waterbury and Barre 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%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.3%±6.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Middlesex 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 — — #19 of 70 in VT #20 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — Barre Unified Union School District #97 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 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.