Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex vs Worcester
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%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,943Highest |
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±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
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%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | |||
| 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 |
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.