Compare towns
Worcester vs Barton vs Middlesex vs Elmore
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 ($147k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
730Lowest |
1,943Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Worcester and Elmore 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% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Elmore 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% |
21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest 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% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Middlesex and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Elmore 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 |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Elmore 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 |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Elmore 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% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school 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.