Compare towns

Windham vs Webster 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Webster has the highest household income ($107k).
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.

MeasureWindhamWebsterBrookline
People
Population
594
2,227Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
44.7±7.6
15% above U.S.
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
Brookline and Webster 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%
22.6%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Webster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Brookline 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%
30.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Webster 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.
$107,171±$14kHighest
33% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Webster 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.
$338,500±$30k
about the U.S. average
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Windham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,396±$622Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Brookline and Webster 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.
$6,021Highest
93% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.6%±71Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Webster and Brookline 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%
9.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
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
School district — Merrimack Valley 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.