Compare towns
Barton vs Middlesex vs Brookline
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 affordable homes ($147k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Middlesex | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
1,943Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% 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 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% 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 | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 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 |
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.