Compare towns
Shoreham vs Middlesex vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shoreham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k 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 | Shoreham | Middlesex | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,269Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $316,400±$34k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Middlesex and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$335Lowest 6% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,713Lowest 6% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| 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 |
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.