Compare towns
Middlesex vs Fairlee vs Brookline
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).
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 | Fairlee | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
1,066 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Fairlee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 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+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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 |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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 |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.