Compare towns
Worcester vs Reading vs Windham 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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Reading | Windham | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
699 |
594Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | 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 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.