Compare towns

Windham vs Deerfield vs Brookline

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 the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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.

MeasureWindhamDeerfieldBrookline
People
Population
594
5,158Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
51.8±3.6Highest
33% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
13.2%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Deerfield 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
U.S.: 35.7%
44.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.9%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Deerfield 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±$12k
17% above U.S.
$106,136±$14kHighest
31% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Deerfield 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±$20k
6% above U.S.
$414,900±$37kHighest
25% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,334±$318Lowest
6% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Brookline and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,824
87% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
26.1%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline 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
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
33% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.5%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline 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 — #156 of 282 in MA —
School district — Deerfield · Frontier —
High school in town — Frontier Regional —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
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.