Compare towns
Brookline vs Hanover 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Hanover | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
14,845Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Brookline 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Hanover 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 U.S. average |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Westminster 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest 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 | — | #69 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.