Compare towns
Windham vs Jay vs Brookline vs Worcester
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 most expensive homes ($354k median).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Jay | Brookline | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
2,354Highest |
531Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.8±4.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Jay and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jay 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$72,380±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$196,900±$22kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,272±$366 10% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,741Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.4%±21.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.