What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leicester has the oldest population (median age 48.8).

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	Leicester	Brookline
People
Population	1,026Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.8±3.8Highest 13% above VT	45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT
	Leicester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4%	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Leicester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	Brookline and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT	$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average
	Brookline and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average	$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT
	Leicester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 24% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brookline and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%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	28 minLowest 20% above VT	28 minHighest 21% above VT
Work from home	12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Brookline and Leicester 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.