Compare towns
Middlesex vs Petersham 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Petersham | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,185Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%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%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Petersham 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. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Petersham 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. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Petersham 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. |
$4,636Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Petersham 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Petersham | 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.