Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex vs Proctor 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 renters (15.1% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Middlesex | Proctor | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,943 |
1,794 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% 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 | $5,000 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.