Compare towns

Brookline vs Roxbury vs Worcester vs Hyde Park

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 expensive homes ($291k median).
Roxbury has the most kids (30.6% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Hyde Park has the highest household income ($90k).

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.

MeasureBrooklineRoxburyWorcesterHyde Park
People
Population
531
942Highest
831
513Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
35.6±11.7Lowest
17% below VT
47±2.7Highest
9% above VT
42.6±10.1
about the VT average
Worcester 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%
30.6%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.6%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
Roxbury and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.7%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
16.4%±3.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brookline and Worcester 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%
29.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
Worcester 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
$73,214±$22kLowest
10% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$89,946±$10kHighest
11% above VT
Hyde Park 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±$37kHighest
8% below VT
$242,600±$55k
23% below VT
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
$221,800±$57kLowest
30% below VT
Brookline and Worcester 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
$950±$495Lowest
23% below VT
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
$1,306±$285
6% above VT
Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Highest
about the VT average
$4,284
15% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
$3,893Lowest
23% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
16.7%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
42.1%±47.5
VT: 48.4%
Brookline and Hyde Park 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%
27.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
79.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1964Lowest
12 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
21% above VT
26 min
12% above VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
26 minLowest
11% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
5.2%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.9%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Worcester 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 — — — #59 of 70 in VT
School district — — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
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.