Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dover vs Elmore vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Dover | Elmore | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,466 |
964Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$315,800±$47kLowest about the VT average |
$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 | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| 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 |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Elmore 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% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | 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.