Compare towns
Brookline vs Hyde Park vs Strafford
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 people working from home (20.6%).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Hyde Park | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
513Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 VT average |
$89,946±$10k 11% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Hyde Park 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 |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,306±$285 6% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Strafford 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% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Strafford 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 | — | #59 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.