Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex vs Windham vs Hyde Park
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 oldest population (median age 45.1).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Windham | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,943Highest |
594 |
513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Middlesex 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2 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±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$89,946±$10k 11% above VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
— | $1,306±$285Lowest 6% above 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 |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Hyde Park 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school 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.