Compare towns
Brookfield vs Middlesex vs Worcester 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 housing (typical home built 1975).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Worcester | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,943Highest |
831Lowest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Middlesex 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% 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% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$23k 21% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Middlesex and Elmore 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$315,800±$47k 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Elmore 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below 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% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Elmore and Brookfield 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 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 | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.