Compare towns

Windham vs Douglas vs Townshend 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

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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.

MeasureWindhamDouglasTownshendBrookline
People
Population
594
9,207Highest
1,538
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Townshend 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
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Douglas 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
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas 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.
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$78,750±$29kLowest
about the U.S. average
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$470,600±$29kHighest
41% above U.S.
$287,200±$79kLowest
14% below U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
$1,074±$80Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Brookline and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$6,338Highest
103% above U.S.
$5,364
72% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Townshend and Brookline 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend and Douglas 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 — #177 of 282 in MA — —
School district — Douglas West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A —
High school in town — Douglas High School Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.2Lowest
8.1Highest
—
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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.