Compare towns
Waterville vs Middlesex vs Wheelock
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 most renters (20.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,943Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Waterville 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% |
18.8%±3.5Lowest 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Middlesex and Waterville 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— |
| Middlesex and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Middlesex 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.