Compare towns
Middlesex vs Thompson vs Windsor Locks 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Thompson | Windsor Locks | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
9,337 |
12,579Highest |
8,014 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Windsor Locks 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Montpelier 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 36% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% 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±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Middlesex 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Thompson School District | Windsor Locks School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windsor Locks High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
8.9 |
10.4Highest |
| 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.