Compare towns
Brookline vs Pittsfield 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 kids (20% under 18).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Pittsfield | Windham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
391Lowest |
594 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Westminster 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% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield and Westminster 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| 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±$16k about the VT average |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% 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 |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Windham and Pittsfield 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 |
$1,035±$140 16% below VT |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,181 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Westminster 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 | — | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.