Compare towns
Middlesex vs Brookline vs Fairlee vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 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 | Middlesex | Brookline | Fairlee | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
531Lowest |
1,066 |
2,090Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Fairlee and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex 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 35% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.