Compare towns
Brookfield vs Chester vs Middlesex vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Chester | Middlesex | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
2,992Highest |
1,943 |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Chester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Middlesex and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.