Compare towns

Brookfield vs Putney vs Middlesex

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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldPutneyMiddlesex
People
Population
1,486Lowest
2,622Highest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9Highest
9% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
44.4±3.9
3% above 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%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Middlesex and Brookfield 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7
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%
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23k
21% above VT
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above 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
$300,000±$44kLowest
5% below VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306
21% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
Middlesex and Brookfield 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
$5,313
5% above VT
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Brookfield 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%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
27 min
17% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
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 — #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.