Compare towns
Brookline vs Bridgewater 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).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Bridgewater | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
980Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest 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% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Windham 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% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater 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 |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% 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 |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
— |
| Brookline and Bridgewater 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 |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Brookline 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest 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.