Compare towns
Middlesex vs Putney vs Berlin 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Putney | Berlin | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
2,880 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Berlin 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$86,691±$21k 7% 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.