Compare towns
Worcester vs Sheldon vs Williston vs Middletown Springs
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 people working from home (23.6%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Middletown Springs has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Sheldon | Williston | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
2,267 |
10,144Highest |
747Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Middletown Springs 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Middletown Springs and Williston 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.