Compare towns
Brookline vs Fairlee 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
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
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 | Fairlee | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Highest |
54Lowest |
513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest 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% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Hyde Park 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 |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% 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±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$277,500±$28k 12% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Brookline and Fairlee 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 |
$1,057±$620Lowest 14% 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 |
$3,750Lowest 26% below VT |
$3,893 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Brookline 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% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
— | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| 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.