Compare towns
Brookline vs Worcester vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
831 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Chester 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Brookline and Worcester 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Worcester 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.