Compare towns
Brookline vs Orange vs Westminster
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Orange | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
7,573Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster 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±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Brookline 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±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Westminster 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. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.