Compare towns
Windham vs Essex vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
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 | Essex | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594 |
11,516Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Essex 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% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Essex 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 |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
| Essex 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 12% above VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,569±$138Lowest 27% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Essex 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 |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Essex 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% |
5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Essex and Brookline 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.