Compare towns
Windham vs Waltham vs Westminster 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).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Waltham | Westminster | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Highest |
452Lowest |
497 |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Waltham 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 16% above VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
| Waltham 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 12% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Windham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest 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% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Waltham 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.