Compare towns
Berlin vs Braintree vs Brookfield vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Brookfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Berlin | Braintree | Brookfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,486 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.