Compare towns
Brookline vs Orwell vs Windham vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,294Highest |
594 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Orwell and Brookline 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%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Orwell 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%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% 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% |
2.2%±3.5 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±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Windham 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±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| 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±$51 10% below VT |
— | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest 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 |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% 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% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school 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.