Compare towns

Windham vs Brookline vs Athens

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).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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.

MeasureWindhamBrooklineAthens
People
Population
594Highest
531
431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
47.3±6.5Highest
10% 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%
20%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Windham 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%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6
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%
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
4.9%±3Highest
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
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
Windham and Brookline 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
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$1,125±$537Lowest
9% below 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
$5,000Lowest
about the VT average
$5,438
8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.5%±39
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%
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
14% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.