Compare towns
Brookline vs Nelson vs Hyde Park
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 population (median age 45.1).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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 | Nelson | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
648Highest |
513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.6±10.1 10% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Hyde Park 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Brookline 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Hyde Park 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$89,946±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Hyde Park 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$221,800±$57kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,306±$285 8% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Hyde Park 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,893Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±47.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.