Compare towns
Brookline vs Orwell vs Windham vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Orwell | Windham | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,294 |
594 |
1,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell 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 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Orwell 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±$16k about the VT average |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
| Windham and Orwell 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 |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | ||||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.