Compare towns
Windham vs Fairlee vs Brookline vs Westminster
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 highest household income ($95k).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Brookline | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Highest |
54Lowest |
531 |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Westminster 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 |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Windham and Westminster 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 |
$277,500±$28kLowest 12% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,057±$620 14% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Brookline and Fairlee 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 |
$3,750Lowest 26% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1942 34 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
— | 28 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| 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.