Compare towns
Brookfield vs Putney vs Middlesex vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Chelsea has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putney | Middlesex | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
2,622Highest |
1,943 |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 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% |
48.6% 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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$260,900±$39kLowest 18% below 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±$359 8% above 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Putney 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% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | ||||
| 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 | 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 History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.