Compare towns
Brookline vs Shelburne 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).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
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 | Shelburne | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
7,969Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne 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±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Shelburne 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 |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Brookline and Shelburne 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Shelburne 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.