Compare towns
Windham vs Middlesex vs Townshend 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).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Brookline has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Townshend | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,943Highest |
1,538 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest 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%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Middlesex 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% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 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 |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% 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 |
$1,074±$80Lowest 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 | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Brookline 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%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 |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.