Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlebury vs Middlesex vs Elmore
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).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Middlesex | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
7,220Highest |
1,943 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Worcester and Elmore 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Middlebury 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% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Middlesex and Elmore 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 |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Middlebury and Middlesex 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 |
$1,201±$120 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Elmore 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 |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Elmore 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% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.