Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex vs Waterbury
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).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,943 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury 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% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.