Compare towns
Lyndon vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndon has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lyndon | Middlesex | Worcester | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
49±9.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Pownal and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Lyndon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21kLowest 28% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$123 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Middlesex and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846 24% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Lyndon and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | #44 of 70 in VT | — | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None 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.