Compare towns
Middlesex vs Dorset vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Westford has the most renters (13.9% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Dorset | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,092 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kLowest 35% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,282Lowest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.