Compare towns
Brookline vs Halifax vs Windham vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Halifax | Windham | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
7,748Highest |
594 |
513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42.6±10.1 10% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hyde Park and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax 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±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$89,946±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$221,800±$57kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
— | $1,306±$285Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$3,893Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±47.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Halifax | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.