Compare towns
Brookline vs Worcester vs Townshend
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 most kids (20% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.
| Measure | Brookline | Worcester | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
831 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend 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%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Brookline and Townshend 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±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Brookline and Townshend 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±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Brookline 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% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.