Compare towns
Brookline vs Sheldon vs Williston 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Sheldon | Williston | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,267 |
10,144Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Williston 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Williston 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Williston and Windham 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 40% above VT |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Williston and Brookline 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Williston 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.