Compare towns
Middlesex vs Petersburgh vs Pownal
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Petersburgh has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 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 | Petersburgh | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,310Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.3±6.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| Petersburgh and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Petersburgh 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Petersburgh 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 36% above U.S. |
$77,692±$15k 4% below U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$170,300±$23kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,100±$630 22% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Petersburgh 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. |
$3,223Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$3,560 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.2%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Pownal 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 | — | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school 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.