Compare towns
Middlesex vs Sheldon vs Cornish vs Waterbury
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 highest household income ($110k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Sheldon | Cornish | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
2,267 |
1,816Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Waterbury 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 36% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| 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 6% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Cornish 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Cornish School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.