Compare towns
Brookline vs Fair Haven 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Fair Haven | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,724 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Fair Haven 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 |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Brookline 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±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Brookline 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 40% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.