Compare towns
Brookline vs Athens vs Windham
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 kids (20% under 18).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
431Lowest |
594Highest |
| 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 |
44.2±7.4Lowest 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%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham 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±$37k 8% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
— |
| Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,438 8% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.