Compare towns
Brookline vs Fairfield vs Proctor 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 oldest population (median age 45.1).
Fairfield has the highest household income ($87k).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Fairfield | Proctor | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,938Highest |
1,794 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Fairfield 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Fairfield 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 |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Fairfield 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 |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Proctor 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.