Compare towns
Worcester vs Barnard vs Putney vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Worcester | Barnard | Putney | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,211 |
2,622Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% 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 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.