Compare towns
Brookline vs Athens vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Brookline | Athens | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Highest |
431Lowest |
513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Athens and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
| Hyde Park and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,306±$285 6% above VT |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Athens 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| 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.