Compare towns
Brookline vs Newfane vs Middlesex vs Westminster
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).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Newfane | Middlesex | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,456 |
1,943 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Westminster 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% 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 |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.