Compare towns
Berlin vs Brookfield vs Middlesex vs Putney
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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Brookfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Brookfield | Middlesex | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,486Lowest |
1,943 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Berlin 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% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| 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±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below 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 |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None 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.