Compare towns
Windham vs Middlesex vs Barton 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
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 | Windham | Middlesex | Barton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,943Highest |
730 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below 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 | 17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Barton 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 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 | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% 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 | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Lowest 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 | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school 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.