Compare towns

Windham vs Norton vs Townshend 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 most expensive homes ($354k median).
Norton has the most affordable homes ($200k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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.

MeasureWindhamNortonTownshendBrookline
People
Population
594
108Lowest
1,538Highest
531
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
53.8±6.7
25% above VT
55.6±9.6Highest
29% above VT
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
Townshend and Norton 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%±21.1
VT: 17.9%
12%±2.6Lowest
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%
31.5%±15.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Norton 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%
28.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
52.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.6%±10.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.4%±0.8
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
Norton 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
$65,625±$23kLowest
19% below VT
$78,750±$29k
3% 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
$200,000±$32kLowest
37% below VT
$287,200±$79k
9% below VT
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,074±$80Lowest
13% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$2,769Lowest
45% below VT
$5,364
6% above VT
$5,000
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
—
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
Townshend and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
13%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
100%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
39 minHighest
68% above VT
25 minLowest
6% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.5%±18
VT: 16.9%
28%±18.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
Townshend and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A —
High school in town — — Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School —
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.1
—
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.