Compare towns
Brooks vs Union vs Windsor vs Waldo
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 affordable homes ($197k median).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Brooks | Union | Windsor | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
2,663 |
3,554Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Union 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. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
| Union and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31k 38% below U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
| Union and Waldo 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. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
| Union and Waldo 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. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Waldo 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 40/MSAD 40 | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.