Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover vs Worcester
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Dover | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,466Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Dover and Worcester 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Worcester 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Brookline and Worcester 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Dover 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% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.