Compare towns
Brookfield vs Jay vs Middlesex vs Lincoln
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Middlesex | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
471Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Lincoln 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Middlesex and Lincoln 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 |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$6,100 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 55% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Lowest 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lincoln Town School District |
| 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.