Compare towns
Brookline vs Swanton 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 homeowners (84.9%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Swanton | Windham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
2,670Highest |
594 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
24.3%±8.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Swanton 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 |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Windham 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±$37k 8% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Windham and Westminster 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 |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
— | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1952 24 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| 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.