Compare towns

Westminster vs Madison vs Brookline

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Madison has the highest household income ($103k).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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.

MeasureWestminsterMadisonBrookline
People
Population
497Lowest
2,680Highest
531
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
50.3±9.7Highest
29% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Madison and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±6.7
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±11.4
U.S.: 17.2%
23.1%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Madison and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
$102,697±$11kHighest
27% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Madison and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
$388,700±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
$1,556±$256
10% above U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Brookline and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,480
44% above U.S.
$4,074Lowest
31% above U.S.
$5,000Highest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
69.2%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Madison and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and Brookline 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 #53 of 70 in VT — —
School district — Madison School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.