Compare towns

Waltham vs Brookline vs Addison

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Addison has the most expensive homes ($362k 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.

MeasureWalthamBrooklineAddison
People
Population
452Lowest
531
1,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
60.8±7.3Highest
41% above VT
45.1±2.7Lowest
5% above VT
53.1±7.6
23% above VT
Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±7.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.6%±5.1
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
45.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.1%±1.9
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
40.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
5.4%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
Addison and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,500±$14k
20% above VT
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the VT average
$106,667±$7kHighest
31% above VT
Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$329,700±$51k
4% above VT
$290,700±$37kLowest
8% below VT
$362,200±$23kHighest
14% above VT
Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$113Lowest
11% below VT
$1,732±$232
40% above VT
$2,019±$461Highest
64% above VT
Addison and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,714
13% above VT
$5,000Lowest
about the VT average
$5,831Highest
16% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±58.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.9%±62.8
VT: 48.4%
Brookline and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%
VT: 10.1%
6.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
18% above VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
28 minLowest
18% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
On TownTapestry
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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.