Compare towns
Brookline vs Westminster vs Ira
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).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Highest |
497 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% 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 |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% 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 |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Ira 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 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.