Compare towns
Worcester vs Brookline vs Hyde Park
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 the most expensive homes ($291k median).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Worcester | Brookline | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Highest |
531 |
513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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±$16k about the VT average |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
| Hyde Park and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Brookline and Worcester 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 |
$1,306±$285 6% above VT |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school 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.