Compare towns
Brookline vs Westminster vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Westminster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
497Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Westminster and Brookline 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 |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Westminster 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Chester 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.