Compare towns
Brookline vs Cornwall vs Middlesex vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Brookline | Cornwall | Middlesex | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,208 |
1,943Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District |
| 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 | 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.