Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Middlesex vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Wardsboro | Middlesex | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.