Compare towns

Brooks vs Monroe vs Windsor vs Mars Hill

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k 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.

MeasureBrooksMonroeWindsorMars Hill
People
Population
1,208
1,001Lowest
3,554Highest
1,398
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±6.6Highest
18% above U.S.
43.5±7
12% above U.S.
44.8±6.5
15% above U.S.
43.4±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
Brooks and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
Monroe and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±5.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±4.9
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooks and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,130±$10k
27% below U.S.
$81,300±$7kHighest
about the U.S. average
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
$65,273±$9k
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,700±$33k
41% below U.S.
$220,300±$57kHighest
34% below U.S.
$207,500±$31k
38% below U.S.
$163,600±$23kLowest
51% below U.S.
Monroe and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,116±$112
21% below U.S.
$1,165±$152Highest
18% below U.S.
$1,026±$89
27% below U.S.
$488±$96Lowest
65% below U.S.
Monroe and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,096
33% below U.S.
$2,207
29% below U.S.
$5,209Highest
67% above U.S.
$1,843Lowest
41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±47.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.5%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
30.6%±7.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Monroe and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
32 minHighest
19% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
14.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brooks and Monroe 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 — — #61 of 70 in VT —
School district RSU 03/MSAD 03 RSU 03/MSAD 03 — RSU 42/MSAD 42
High school in town None in town None in town — Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
8.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 12 photos → 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.