Compare towns
Windham vs Brookfield vs Townshend vs Westminster
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 most expensive homes ($354k median).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Brookfield | Townshend | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,486 |
1,538Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Townshend and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Windham 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 |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Windham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Townshend and Brookfield 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 |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Brookfield 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.