Compare towns
Brookline vs Mapleton vs Andover vs Westminster
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Mapleton | Andover | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,884 |
616 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Andover 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Andover 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Westminster 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 |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Andover and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Andover 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 23% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Andover 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Westminster 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.