Compare towns
Middlesex vs Sheffield vs Waterbury
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%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Sheffield | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
573Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield 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 |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury 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 |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
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.