Compare towns
Middlesex vs South Burlington vs Worcester
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%).
South Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.3%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | South Burlington | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
20,756Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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% |
67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.5%±2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and South Burlington 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 |
$106,667±$13k 31% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and South Burlington 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 |
$443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$6,674Highest 32% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±7.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| South Burlington and Worcester 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% |
7.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 25% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | #12 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | South Burlington School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | South Burlington High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
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| 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.