Compare towns
Brookline vs Fairlee vs Middlesex vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Fairlee | Middlesex | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,066 |
1,943Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Brookline 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Windham 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above 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 |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.