Compare towns

Middlesex vs Rye vs Williston

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 affordable homes ($376k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexRyeWilliston
People
Population
1,943Lowest
5,611
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston 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±$13k
36% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% 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±$40kLowest
13% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Lowest
6% below U.S.
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Williston and Rye 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.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Rye 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%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Lowest
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 — #2 of 120 in NH #11 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Rye School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.