Compare towns
Windham vs Fairlee vs Worcester 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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Worcester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
54Lowest |
831Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 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% VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Windham and Brookline 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±$28k 12% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,057±$620 14% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
— | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.