Compare towns
Middlesex vs Nelson vs Worcester vs Monkton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Nelson | Worcester | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
648Lowest |
831 |
1,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$119,688±$28kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$379,900±$18kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,301±$120 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,887 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.