Compare towns
Worcester vs Northfield vs Middlesex 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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Northfield | Middlesex | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,943 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Worcester and Elmore 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% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above 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±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above 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±$136 17% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.