Compare towns
Middlesex vs Reading vs Dorset
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 homeowners (96.7%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Dorset 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 | Reading | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
699Lowest |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Reading and Dorset 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest 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%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Dorset 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset 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±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 |
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.