Compare towns

Windham vs Nelson 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 most expensive homes ($354k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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.

MeasureWindhamNelsonBrookline
People
Population
594
648Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-13.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
42.3±11.7Lowest
9% 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%
27.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Nelson and Brookline 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%
24.8%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Nelson 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%
61.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Nelson 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.
$99,792±$23kHighest
24% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Nelson and Windham 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.
$340,900±$49k
about the U.S. average
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Windham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,203±$243Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,575
79% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±68.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Highest
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%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
31.5%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Nelson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Nelson School District —
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.