Compare towns
Newfane vs Middlesex vs Brattleboro vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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 | Newfane | Middlesex | Brattleboro | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
1,943 |
12,122Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 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+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| 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 | $66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% 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 | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% 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 | $5,174 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 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 | — | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.