Compare towns
Windham vs Springfield vs Highgate 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Springfield | Highgate | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
9,084Highest |
3,528 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
| 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%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Highgate 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Windham and Highgate 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | — | Springfield High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.