Compare towns
Brandon vs Worcester vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Brandon | Worcester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
831 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
| Brandon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.