Compare towns
Middlesex vs Reading vs Worcester vs Moretown
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 people working from home (28.4%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Worcester | Moretown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
699Lowest |
831 |
1,532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
46.8±3.8 9% above VT |
| Reading and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
18%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
58.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| 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±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$104,423±$7k 29% above VT |
| Middlesex and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$380,800±$36kHighest 20% above VT |
| Moretown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$838±$462Lowest 32% below VT |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,506 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
16.1%±14.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Worcester 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.