What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Groton	Brookline
People
Population	967Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.7±5.8Highest 6% above VT	45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT
	Groton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±3Highest VT: 21.4%	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Groton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7%	3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Groton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT	$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average
	Brookline and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT	$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT
	Brookline and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,659Lowest 27% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brookline and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 29% above VT	28 minLowest 21% above VT
Work from home	12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Brookline and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.