Compare towns
Lowell vs Middlesex vs Windham vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Lowell | Middlesex | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070 |
1,943Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | Lowell School District | 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 | 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.