Compare towns
Windham vs Williston vs Barnard vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Williston | Barnard | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
10,144Highest |
1,211 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Williston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Barnard 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$12k 16% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT |
$1,732±$232 40% above VT |
| Williston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Brookline 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.