Compare towns
Middlesex vs Richmond vs Duxbury 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 most homeowners (96.7%).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Duxbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Richmond | Duxbury | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
4,159 |
1,548Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
37.5±4.4Lowest 13% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Richmond 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% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
13%±2.4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
58.5% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.5%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Duxbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$105,208±$25k 30% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$364,600±$27kLowest 15% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Richmond 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 |
— | $1,318±$407 7% above VT |
$1,302±$113Lowest 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Lowest 29% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$6,564 30% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
21.2%±21 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montpelier and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
82.4% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Harwood Union Middle/High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.