What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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	Wheelock	Brookline
People
Population	717Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51±5.6Highest 18% above VT	45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT
	Wheelock and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4%	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%	3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	Brookline and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT	$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average
	Brookline and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT	$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,732±$232 40% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,937Lowest 42% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brookline and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 17% above VT	28 minHighest 21% above VT
Work from home	21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9%	20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Wheelock and Brookline 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.