Compare towns
Middlesex vs Putney vs Barre vs Montpelier
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 highest household income ($110k).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Putney | Barre | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
8,412Highest |
8,014 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Montpelier 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
53.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
18 min 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.