Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Sheldon
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 population (median age 47).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Dummerston | Middlesex | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Lowest |
2,090 |
1,943 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Brookfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% 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 | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.