Compare towns

Brookline vs Fairlee vs Windsor vs Windham

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 kids (20% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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.

MeasureBrooklineFairleeWindsorWindham
People
Population
531Lowest
1,066
3,554Highest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+0.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
44.8±6.5
4% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
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%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.9
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Fairlee and Windsor 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%
39.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1
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±$10k
8% below VT
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Windham 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
$274,200±$39k
13% below VT
$207,500±$31kLowest
34% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$1,083±$242
12% below VT
$1,026±$89Lowest
17% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Lowest
about the VT average
$5,617
11% above VT
$5,209
3% above VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.5%±17Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
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%
7.8%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
57.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
21% above VT
24 min
3% above VT
23 minLowest
3% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9
VT: 16.9%
10.3%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
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 — — #61 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.