Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex vs Unity vs Windham
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Unity | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,375 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham 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. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
— |
| Brookline and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Unity School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.