Compare towns
Brookline vs Chester vs Elmore
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 people working from home (20.6%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Chester | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,992Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Brookline 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Elmore 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% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.