Compare towns
Brookline vs Williamstown vs Windham vs Panton
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 oldest population (median age 45.1).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Williamstown | Windham | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
3,579Highest |
594 |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton 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 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
| Windham and Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,659±$189 34% above VT |
— | $1,410±$130Lowest 14% above VT |
| Brookline and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Panton 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.