Compare towns
Waterbury vs Wilder vs Middlesex vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Waterbury has the most renters (58.2% rent).
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 | Wilder | Middlesex | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
3,087 |
1,943 |
1,753Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
39.6±4.3Lowest 8% below VT |
| Wilder 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 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.2%±7.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
52.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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±$23k 28% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$54,273±$13kLowest 33% below VT |
| 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 41% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$375,400±$57k 19% above VT |
| 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±$535 17% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$866±$497Lowest 30% below VT |
| Middlesex and Wilder 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 |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,446Lowest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.3%±21.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
41.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
26 min 9% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23%±9.9 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 | — | — | #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 Our Story | None yet | 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.