Compare towns

Middlesex vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

MeasureMiddlesexSpringfieldWaterbury
People
Population
1,943Lowest
9,084Highest
5,405
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
-3.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9Highest
3% above VT
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
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
VT: 17.9%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
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%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
23.6%±3.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Springfield 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
VT: 43.8%
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.8
VT: 7%
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
35% above VT
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% 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
$192,400±$20kLowest
39% 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
$963±$100Lowest
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
$4,807Lowest
5% below VT
$6,435
28% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.6%±15.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.8%±21.7
VT: 48.4%
Springfield 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%
14.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
70.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±5.5Lowest
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 — #64 of 70 in VT #20 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town Springfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3
—
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.