Compare towns
Barton vs Brookline vs Middlesex vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Barton | Brookline | Middlesex | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
531Lowest |
1,943Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.