Compare towns

Brookfield vs Groton vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldGrotonWorcester
People
Population
1,486Highest
967
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9Highest
9% above VT
45.7±5.8Lowest
6% above VT
47±2.7Highest
9% above VT
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.3%±2.9
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brookfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.5%±3
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%
VT: 43.8%
38.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±5.7Highest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
Groton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23kHighest
21% above VT
$77,250±$14k
5% below VT
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below VT
Brookfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,300±$15kHighest
7% above VT
$243,000±$70kLowest
23% below VT
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306
21% below VT
$288±$151Lowest
77% below VT
$1,023±$136Highest
17% below VT
Worcester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560Highest
10% below VT
$3,659Lowest
27% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%
VT: 10.1%
6.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
30 min
29% above VT
29 minLowest
22% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.