Compare towns
Brookline vs Lunenburg vs Windham vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Lunenburg | Windham | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
11,902Highest |
594 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane 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% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lunenburg 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±$16k about the U.S. average |
$112,828±$11kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
— | $1,266±$238Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Brookline 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Lunenburg | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Lunenburg High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.