Compare towns
Brookfield vs Middlesex vs Calais vs Randolph
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).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Calais | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Lowest |
1,943 |
1,713 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Brookfield and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Randolph 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Calais 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Calais 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.