Compare towns
Waterbury vs Westford 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%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Westford | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,290 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
| Middlesex and Westford 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% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23kLowest 28% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex 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 |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
| Waterbury and Westford 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 |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex 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 |
$6,282Lowest 25% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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 |
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.