Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex vs Jay vs Middletown Springs
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).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).
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 | Jay | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
1,943Highest |
471Lowest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Jay and Middletown Springs 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Middletown Springs 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— | $1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Middletown Springs 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Worcester 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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.