Compare towns
Brookfield vs Westminster vs Worcester vs Braintree
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 highest household income ($99k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Westminster | Worcester | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
497Lowest |
831 |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookfield 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$840±$405 32% 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school 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.