Compare towns
Windham vs Dorset vs Salisbury 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 most renters (17.1% rent).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 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.
| Measure | Windham | Dorset | Salisbury | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
2,092Highest |
1,200 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Salisbury and Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Brookline 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% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Dorset 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
| Dorset and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
$1,443±$984 17% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Brookline 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.