Compare towns
Middlesex vs Westminster vs Jay vs Montpelier
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 highest household income ($110k).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Westminster | Jay | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
2,999 |
471Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| 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 35% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| 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 8% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $1,302±$113 6% above VT |
| 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 29% above VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.