Compare towns
Springfield vs Middlesex vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Springfield | Middlesex | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,943 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest 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+ | 23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 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 | $66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above 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 | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above 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 | $4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.