Compare towns
Worcester vs Jay vs Proctor 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 renters (14.1% rent).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Jay | Proctor | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
471Lowest |
1,794 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Middlesex 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Proctor 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Proctor 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.