Compare towns
Middlesex vs Stratton vs Berlin 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%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
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 | Stratton | Berlin | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
532Lowest |
2,880 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Berlin 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 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 35% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Stratton 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 19% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury and Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.