Compare towns
Worcester vs Brookline vs Hyde Park 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).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Brookline | Hyde Park | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
531 |
513Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Worcester and Brookline 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%±6 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park 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% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest 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 |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$89,946±$10k 11% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Hyde Park 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 |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,306±$285 6% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Hyde Park 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% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.