Compare towns
Brookline vs Madison vs Windham
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 most affordable homes ($291k median).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Madison | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,680Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Madison and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Madison 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 U.S. average |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Madison 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±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Madison and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,556±$256Lowest 10% above U.S. |
— |
| Brookline and Madison 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. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Madison School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.