Compare towns
Bethel vs Middlesex vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Bethel | Middlesex | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736 |
1,943Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Bethel and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Bethel and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.