Compare towns
Brookline vs Hancock vs Windham 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).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.
| Measure | Brookline | Hancock | Windham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,791Highest |
594 |
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. |
44.2±7.4 14% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% 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% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 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. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Hancock and Windham 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. |
$353,900±$20k 6% 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. |
$5,951 91% 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% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest 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% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
20.5%±5.6 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 History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.