Compare towns
Waterville vs Middlesex vs Putney vs Vershire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Waterville | Middlesex | Putney | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
842 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
| Waterville and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vershire and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,117±$80 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,640 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.