Compare towns
Brookline vs Westminster vs Middlesex vs Panton
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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k 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 | Westminster | Middlesex | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
497Lowest |
1,943Highest |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest 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%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Panton 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Panton and Middlesex 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,410±$130 14% above VT |
| Brookline and Panton 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 |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Brookline 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Panton 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.