Compare towns

Brookline vs Hancock vs Westminster

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 most affordable homes ($291k median).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrooklineHancockWestminster
People
Population
531
1,791Highest
497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
53.8±4.5Highest
38% above U.S.
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hancock 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hancock 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
$95,208±$15kHighest
18% above U.S.
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
Hancock 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±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
$436,700±$22kHighest
31% above U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,208±$650
15% below U.S.
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
Brookline and Hancock 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.
$6,884Highest
121% above U.S.
$4,480Lowest
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.4%±55.6
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
30 min
13% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — Contoocook Valley School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.