Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex vs Westminster vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Westminster | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,943Highest |
497Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% 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 |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | 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.