Compare towns

Middlesex vs Putney vs Webster vs Montpelier

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 people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexPutneyWebsterMontpelier
People
Population
1,943Lowest
2,622
2,227
8,014Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
44.7±7.6Highest
15% above U.S.
42.3±2.4
9% above U.S.
Webster 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
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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%
19.4%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.1%Highest
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%
3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$107,171±$14k
33% above U.S.
$81,030±$6k
about the U.S. average
Middlesex and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$338,500±$30k
about the U.S. average
$375,100±$21k
13% above U.S.
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±$359
6% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,396±$622Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,302±$113
8% below U.S.
Webster 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.
$6,021
93% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.6%±71
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Webster 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%
9.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
96%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
18 min
31% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #9 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Merrimack Valley School District Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Montpelier High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
10.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → 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.