Compare towns

Waterbury vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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.

MeasureWaterburyHamptonMiddlesex
People
Population
5,405
16,426Highest
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Waterbury 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
29% above U.S.
$95,233±$9kLowest
18% 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±$40k
34% above U.S.
$550,200±$39kHighest
65% above U.S.
$376,300±$40kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,027±$535Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
Hampton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,435Lowest
106% above U.S.
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.8%±21.7
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Waterbury 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%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
28.3%±6.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3Lowest
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 #31 of 120 in NH —
School district Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town Winnacunnet High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1
—
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.