Compare towns

Middlesex vs Brattleboro vs Cornish

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexBrattleboroCornish
People
Population
1,943
12,122Highest
1,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
45.6±4.5
17% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
Cornish and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
Middlesex and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
Middlesex and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$5,700Lowest
83% above U.S.
$5,796
86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Brattleboro and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Brattleboro 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 — #33 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Cornish School District
High school in town None in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.