What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).

Maidstone has the most expensive homes ($438k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Maidstone
People
Population	531Highest	241Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT	61.3±8.2Highest 42% above VT
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%	12.4%±11.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline and Maidstone 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%	39.4%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	28.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	3.3%±3.4Highest VT: 7%
	Maidstone 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	$85,833±$32kHighest 6% above VT
	Maidstone and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT	$438,200±$81kHighest 38% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232 40% above VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest about the VT average	$3,914Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Brookline and Maidstone 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%	2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	97.5%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 21% above VT	29 minHighest 25% above VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	24.5%±15.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Maidstone and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.