Compare towns
Brookline vs Marshfield vs Rupert vs Westminster
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 kids (20% under 18).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Marshfield | Rupert | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
470Lowest |
676 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Rupert and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Westminster 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% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Marshfield 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 VT average |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Rupert and Marshfield 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 |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Rupert 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 40% above VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school 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 |
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.