Compare towns
Worcester vs Dummerston vs Montpelier 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).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Montpelier | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,090 |
8,014Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Worcester and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Montpelier 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.