Compare towns
Worcester vs Pawlet 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 most renters (14.1% rent).
Pawlet has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
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 | Pawlet | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,480 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Pawlet 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% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest 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 |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Pawlet 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 |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Pawlet 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% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±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 | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mettawee School District #84 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.