Compare towns
Arlington vs Brookline vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Arlington | Brookline | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Highest |
531Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Middlesex 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.