Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover vs Worcester vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,466Highest |
831 |
513Lowest |
| 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±2.7 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Worcester 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest 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±$16k about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
| Hyde Park 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,306±$285 6% above VT |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% 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% |
42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Hyde Park 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% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| 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 | 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.