Compare towns
Brookline vs Washington vs Wells
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 people working from home (20.6%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Washington | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,056 |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Washington 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% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Brookline and Wells 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 |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Brookline and Wells 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 |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Brookline and Wells 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 |
$3,485 31% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Brookline 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 21% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.