Compare towns
Brookline vs Calais vs Jay vs Westminster
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
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.
| Measure | Brookline | Calais | Jay | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,713Highest |
471Lowest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Jay 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% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Calais 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%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Calais 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 8% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
— | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Brookline and Calais 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 21% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Calais 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school 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.