Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex vs Jay vs Windham
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 housing (typical home built 1976).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
1,943Highest |
471Lowest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±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±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
— | — |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Jay 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 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 14% 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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 | — |
| 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.