Compare towns

Brewer vs Putney vs Middlesex

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

MeasureBrewerPutneyMiddlesex
People
Population
9,652Highest
2,622
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±4.8
3% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
44.4±3.9Highest
14% above U.S.
Middlesex and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Brewer and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54
23% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
Middlesex and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brewer and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
18 min
32% below U.S.
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Putney 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 #32 of 133 in ME #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Brewer Public Schools Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town Brewer High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.