Compare towns
Worcester vs Dover vs Middletown Springs
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 youngest population (median age 47).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Dover | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
1,466Highest |
747Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Dover and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middletown Springs 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$82,000±$12kHighest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs and Worcester 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Dover and Worcester 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs and Worcester 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,595Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 |
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.