What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

Westfield has the most kids (27.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Westfield
People
Population	531Lowest	536Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT	44±19.9Lowest about the VT average
	Brookline and Westfield 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%	27.1%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Westfield and Brookline 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%	29.7%±11.4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Westfield and Brookline 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%	27.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6 VT: 7%	3.2%±2.5 VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average	$72,500±$30kLowest 11% below VT
	Brookline and Westfield 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	$301,400±$47kHighest 5% below VT
	Westfield and Brookline 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	$863±$187Lowest 30% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest about the VT average	$4,388Lowest 13% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	66.7%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Westfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	91.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT	1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 21% above VT	30 minHighest 29% above VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%	14.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brookline and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.