Compare towns
Brookline vs Hardwick vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Hardwick | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
2,965Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Hardwick 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 VT average |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Hardwick 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±$37k 8% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 21% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.