Compare towns

Brookline vs Marshfield vs Sharon vs Windham

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 homeowners (84.9%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

MeasureBrooklineMarshfieldSharonWindham
People
Population
531
470Lowest
1,577Highest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+3.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
42.4±8.8Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±7.7Highest
6% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
Sharon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
VT: 17.9%
19.4%±9.1
VT: 17.9%
21%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sharon 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
VT: 21.4%
10.2%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Sharon 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%
VT: 43.8%
35.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±0.9
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Marshfield 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
$84,375±$20k
4% above VT
$84,375±$17k
4% above VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Windham 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
$346,700±$37k
10% above VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham and Sharon 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±$79Lowest
9% below VT
$1,386±$155
12% above VT
—
Brookline and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
about the VT average
$3,269Lowest
35% below VT
$5,903
17% above VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
52.4%±62.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
19.8%±17.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Marshfield and Brookline 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%
VT: 10.1%
3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.2%
VT: 73.2%
79.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
21% above VT
29 minHighest
24% above VT
26 minLowest
12% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.5%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
12.7%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — Sharon School District —
High school in town — — None in town —
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.