Compare towns
Windham vs Grafton 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 highest household income ($95k).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Grafton | Worcester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
666 |
831Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% 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% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest 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% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Worcester 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 |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 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 |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Windham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,288±$174 4% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton 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 VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Athens Grafton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.