Compare towns
Waterbury vs Chapman vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% rent).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Chapman | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
388Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Chapman and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| 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 27% below U.S. |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 106% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.