Compare towns
Windham vs Athens vs Westminster vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Athens | Westminster | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Highest |
431Lowest |
497 |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Athens and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Athens and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.