Compare towns
Worcester vs Strafford vs Elmore 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).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Strafford | Elmore | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,372 |
964 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Strafford 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | Strafford School District | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | 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.