Compare towns
Brookfield vs Lowell vs Montgomery
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 highest household income ($99k).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Lowell | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
1,070 |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Highest 21% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Brookfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minLowest 55% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
37 min 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Montgomery 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 | Lowell School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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.