Compare towns
Brookline vs Fairlee vs Windham 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 56.2).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Windham | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,066Highest |
594 |
513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Brookline 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Windham 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$89,946±$10k 11% above VT |
| Windham and Hyde Park 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% 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 | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | — |
| High school 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.