Compare towns

Middlesex vs Peacham vs Waterbury

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%).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexPeachamWaterbury
People
Population
1,943
887Lowest
5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
-2.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
50.1±5.7Highest
16% above VT
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
Peacham 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%
20.7%±6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.9%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
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
VT: 21.4%
33.6%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
5.4%±4Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Peacham 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
$90,000±$28kLowest
11% above VT
$103,917±$23k
28% above VT
Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40k
19% above VT
$302,000±$64kLowest
5% below VT
$447,200±$40kHighest
41% above VT
Waterbury and Middlesex 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
$1,028±$248
17% below VT
$1,027±$535Lowest
17% below VT
Middlesex and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$5,605Lowest
11% above VT
$6,435
28% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
66.7%±17.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.8%±21.7
VT: 48.4%
Peacham and Waterbury 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%
10.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.1%
VT: 73.2%
70.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
17% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
30 min
28% above VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
24.2%±16.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28.3%±6.8
VT: 16.9%
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 — — #20 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Peacham School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.