Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Newfane
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).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,943Highest |
831 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$18k 9% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% 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 |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.