Compare towns
Worcester vs Peacham vs Dover 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Peacham | Dover | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
887 |
1,466 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Dover and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Peacham 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% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Dover 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% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Peacham 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 |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Peacham 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 |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Peacham 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 |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Dover 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% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Peacham 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 | Peacham School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.