Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex vs Brattleboro 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 oldest population (median age 47).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Middlesex | Brattleboro | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,943 |
12,122Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Worcester and Brattleboro 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below 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±$27k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Elmore 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 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 | — | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.