Compare towns
Montgomery vs Worcester vs Middlesex vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Montgomery | Worcester | Middlesex | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047 |
831Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest 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 | $53,289±$24k 34% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209 30% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 |
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.