What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).

Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Hancock
People
Population	531Highest	435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT	33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT
	Brookline and Hancock 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%	17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline and Hancock 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%	19.8%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Hancock 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7%
	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±$16kHighest about the VT average	$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT
	Brookline and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT	$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT	$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest about the VT average	$3,511Lowest 30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4%	3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	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 VT: 10.1%	5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 21% above VT	28 minLowest 17% above VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%	11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brookline and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.