Compare towns
Windham vs Pepperell vs Brookline vs Chester
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).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Pepperell | Brookline | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
11,663Highest |
531Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Brookline 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Chester 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. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Pepperell 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Pepperell 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.