Compare towns
Brookline vs Ferrisburgh vs Middlesex vs Newfane
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 renters (15.1% rent).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Brookline | Ferrisburgh | Middlesex | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,661Highest |
1,943 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest 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% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Ferrisburgh 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% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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 |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Middlesex and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Middlesex 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 |
$1,435±$173 16% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,266±$238Lowest about the VT average |
| Brookline and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$6,120 21% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Newfane 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | — | #7 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.