Compare towns
Waterbury vs Walpole 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Walpole | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
3,690 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
32.9%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% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Walpole 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. |
$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$319,800±$48kLowest 4% 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. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole 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. |
$6,078Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Waterbury 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Fall Mountain Regional 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.