Compare towns

Brookline vs Worcester vs Westminster vs Panton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k 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.

MeasureBrooklineWorcesterWestminsterPanton
People
Population
531
831Highest
497Lowest
690
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
—
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
47±2.7Highest
9% above VT
43.3±11.5
about the VT average
42.7±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
Worcester and Brookline 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%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
24.9%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Panton 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%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±11.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Westminster 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%
45.4%
VT: 43.8%
35.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.3
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±$16k
about the VT average
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below VT
$81,000±$22k
about the VT average
$86,667±$10kHighest
7% above VT
Panton and Westminster 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
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$313,600±$39k
about the VT average
$438,000±$40kHighest
38% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
$1,410±$130
14% above VT
Brookline and Panton 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
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$4,480
11% below VT
$6,695Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
61%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
Panton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
3.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
21% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
26 minLowest
11% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
23.1%±15.9
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Panton and Worcester 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 —
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — —
High school in town — None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.