Compare towns
Brookline vs Jay vs Middlebury vs Westminster
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 kids (20% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Jay | Middlebury | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
471Lowest |
9,175Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Middlebury 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Middlebury and Brookline 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— | $1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Westminster 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.