Compare towns
Brookline vs Mendon vs Dover 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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Dover | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,113 |
1,466Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Westminster 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Dover 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
| Brookline and Mendon 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.