Compare towns

Windham vs Ludlow vs Brookline vs Worcester

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).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
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.

MeasureWindhamLudlowBrooklineWorcester
People
Population
594
808
531Lowest
831Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
48.7±5.6Highest
13% above VT
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
Ludlow 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
VT: 17.9%
13.1%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
20%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
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%
30.4%±0.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ludlow 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%
39.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.6%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
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
$56,667±$19kLowest
30% below VT
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
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
$304,000±$32k
4% below VT
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
Windham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,018±$91Lowest
18% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,237Lowest
16% below VT
$5,000
about the VT average
$4,421
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
33%±13.8
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
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
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
51.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
21 minLowest
10% below VT
28 min
21% above VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
17.3%±6.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
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 — — — 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.