Compare towns

Windham vs Halifax 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

Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k 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.

MeasureWindhamHalifaxBrookline
People
Population
594
7,748Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
41.9±4.7Lowest
8% above U.S.
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Halifax 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%
18.8%±3.6Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Halifax 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.
$118,556±$11kHighest
47% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$481,500±$51kHighest
45% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,804±$375Highest
28% above U.S.
$1,732±$232Lowest
23% above U.S.
Halifax and Brookline 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.
$6,840Highest
119% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.6%±37.4
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline and Halifax 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%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Windham 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 — #120 of 282 in MA —
School district — Halifax —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

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.