Compare towns
Waterbury vs Henniker 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 expensive homes ($447k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Henniker | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
6,197Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest 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%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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% |
41.4%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% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21kLowest 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±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above 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. |
$1,081±$164 23% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Henniker 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. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Henniker School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.