Compare towns
Waterbury vs Brattleboro vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Waterbury | Brattleboro | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
12,122Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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+ | 19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% 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 | $447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 28% above VT |
$5,700Lowest 13% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.