Compare towns
Worcester vs Barton 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 oldest population (median age 47).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Barton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,815Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Worcester and Barton 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% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton 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% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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 | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Worcester 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% |
10.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.