Compare towns
Worcester vs Dover vs Reading 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Dover | Reading | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
1,466 |
699Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Dover and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Reading 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Reading and Middlesex 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 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.