Compare towns
Brookfield vs Worcester vs Chelsea
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 highest household income ($99k).
Worcester has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Worcester | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
831Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$260,900±$39kLowest 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.