Compare towns

Windham vs Northfield vs Brookfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasureWindhamNorthfieldBrookfield
People
Population
16,038Highest
5,920
1,486Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
47±5.9Highest
21% above U.S.
Brookfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
$98,500±$23k
22% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$274,400±$21kLowest
18% below U.S.
$339,300±$15k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,018±$207
28% below U.S.
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$4,560Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #42 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham School District Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town Windham High School Northfield Middle/High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.0Lowest
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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.