Compare towns
Townsend vs Middlesex vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Townsend | Middlesex | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,943Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | North Middlesex | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.