Compare towns
Worcester vs Bolton vs Elmore 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).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Bolton | Elmore | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,163 |
964 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% 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% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest 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+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Bolton and Middlesex 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 |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| 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±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Bolton 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 |
$4,826 4% below VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Elmore and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | 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 Our Story | 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.