Compare towns
Worcester vs Brookline vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Worcester | Brookline | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Highest |
531Lowest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Brookline and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,288±$174 4% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.