Compare towns
Brookfield vs Windham vs Worcester vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Middleton has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Brookfield | Windham | Worcester | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
594 |
831 |
1,595Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$101,696±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$312,300±$27k 6% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,500±$293Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926 90% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,504 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.