Compare towns
Windham vs Williston vs Northfield 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 most expensive homes ($476k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Northfield | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
10,144Highest |
5,920 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
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%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Williston 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Williston 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±$20k 12% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below 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 | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 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 |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.