Compare towns
Brookfield vs Middlesex vs Cornwall vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($261k 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 | Middlesex | Cornwall | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,943Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Chelsea 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Chelsea 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±$13k 35% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$260,900±$39kLowest 18% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Cornwall 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% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.