Compare towns
Middlesex vs Putney vs Rye 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 most homeowners (96.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Putney | Rye | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
5,611Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535 27% below U.S. |
| Rye and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Middlesex 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rye School District | 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 History | None yet | 6 photos → | 12 photos → | 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.