Compare towns
Brookline vs Nelson 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 most affordable homes ($291k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
648Highest |
594 |
| 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. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Nelson 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. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Nelson 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±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Windham and Nelson 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. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% 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% |
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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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 | |||
| 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.