Compare towns
Worcester vs Hyde Park vs Salisbury vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Hyde Park | Salisbury | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
513Lowest |
1,200 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Salisbury and Worcester 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 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% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2 VT: 7% |
1.6%±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 |
$89,946±$10k 11% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Salisbury 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 |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Salisbury 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 |
$1,306±$285 6% above VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hyde Park and Salisbury 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% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.