Compare towns

Brookline vs Whitman vs Windham vs Newfane

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).

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.

MeasureBrooklineWhitmanWindhamNewfane
People
Population
531Lowest
15,295Highest
594
1,456
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
40.4±1.8Lowest
4% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Whitman and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Newfane and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Whitman 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 U.S. average
$108,933±$14kHighest
35% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$66,719±$21kLowest
17% below U.S.
Whitman and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$472,700±$12kHighest
42% above U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$284,200±$49kLowest
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
$1,771±$151Highest
25% above U.S.
—
$1,266±$238Lowest
10% below U.S.
Whitman and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
$5,824
87% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,174
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±13.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitman and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfane 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 — #191 of 282 in MA — —
School district — Whitman-Hanson — West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.