Compare towns
Worcester vs Cornwall vs Brookfield vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Brookfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Worcester | Cornwall | Brookfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,208 |
1,486 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Cornwall and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.