Compare towns
Middlesex vs Rye vs Worcester 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Rye | Worcester | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
5,611 |
831Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Montpelier 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% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%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% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113 8% 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rye School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.