Compare towns

Middlesex vs Northfield vs Worcester vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Dummerston 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.

MeasureMiddlesexNorthfieldWorcesterDummerston
People
Population
1,943
5,920Highest
831Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
47±2.7Highest
9% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
Worcester and Dummerston 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%
14.6%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston 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%
20%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston 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%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$274,400±$21k
13% below VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359
8% above VT
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$4,878
3% below VT
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
Northfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Dummerston 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 — #42 of 70 in VT — —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Northfield Middle/High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.