Compare towns
Middlesex vs Waterbury vs Wilder vs Berlin
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%).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Waterbury | Wilder | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
5,405Highest |
3,087 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Wilder 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% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 35% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% 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 |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below 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 |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.