Compare towns
Brookfield vs Middlesex vs Williston vs Elmore
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 most homeowners (96.7%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Middlesex | Williston | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,943 |
10,144Highest |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Brookfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kLowest 21% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$315,800±$47kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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.