Compare towns

Brookline vs Busti vs Windham vs Westminster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Busti has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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.

MeasureBrooklineBustiWindhamWestminster
People
Population
531
7,452Highest
594
497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
46.6±4.8Highest
20% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
Busti and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Busti 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Busti 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 U.S. average
$67,292±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$164,600±$12kLowest
51% below U.S.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,085±$106
23% below U.S.
—
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$3,876Lowest
24% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
55.5%±13.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Busti and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and Brookline 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
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.