Compare towns
Brookline vs Northfield vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Northfield | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Northfield 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% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Brookline and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Brookline and Newfane 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 |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Newfane 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 |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.