Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex vs Unity vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Unity | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,375 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
| Unity and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Unity School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.