Compare towns
Worcester vs Newport vs Middlesex
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).
Newport has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Newport | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
4,394Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
46.4±4.3 8% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Worcester and Newport 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% |
13.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Newport 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% |
25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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 |
$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$850±$49Lowest 31% 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 |
$4,036Lowest 20% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Newport 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% |
23%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | #63 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Country Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.