Compare towns

Windham vs Ludlow 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

Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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.

MeasureWindhamLudlowMiddlesexBrookline
People
Population
594
1,990Highest
1,943
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
52.2±6.2Highest
21% above VT
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
Ludlow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
14.1%±6Lowest
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+
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
31.1%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ludlow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
Ludlow and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$54,885±$14kLowest
32% below VT
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$370,200±$46k
17% above VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$290,700±$37kLowest
8% below VT
Middlesex and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,112±$151Lowest
10% 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
$5,951
18% above VT
$4,890Lowest
about the VT average
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$5,000
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
45.2%±25.2
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Brookline and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.6%
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
27 min
17% above VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.3%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town — None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.