Compare towns
Brookfield vs Middlesex vs Proctor vs Plainfield
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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Proctor | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,943Highest |
1,794 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Proctor 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Proctor 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Proctor 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.