Compare towns
Middlesex vs Putney vs Wolfeboro 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 homeowners (96.7%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Putney | Wolfeboro | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
6,571 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% 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. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%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% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% 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% |
12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% 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% |
78.1% 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. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below 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% |
22.9%±6.6 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.