Compare towns
Brookline vs Plainfield vs Stowe vs Windham
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).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Plainfield | Stowe | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,314 |
5,285Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Stowe 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Plainfield 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Stowe 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
— |
| Brookline and Stowe 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Stowe Town School District | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Stowe High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.