Compare towns

Westminster vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($112k).
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.

MeasureWestminsterSalisburyBrookline
People
Population
497Lowest
1,609Highest
531
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
51.5±4.5Highest
32% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Salisbury 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%
20.1%±9.6
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Salisbury 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%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Salisbury 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%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1Lowest
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
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Salisbury 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.
$363,400±$47kHighest
9% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Salisbury and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,480Lowest
44% above U.S.
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.1%±43.8
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline and Westminster 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%
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%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 min
13% above U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
23.1%±15.9
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Westminster 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 — Merrimack Valley School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.