Compare towns
Brookfield vs Ira 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 most renters (12.1% rent).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Ira | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486 |
381Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Ira 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% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ira 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.