Compare towns
Middlesex vs Springfield vs Union 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 highest household income ($110k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Montpelier has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Springfield | Union | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,663 |
8,014 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Springfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Middlesex 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% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montpelier and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% 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. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.