Compare towns

Worcester vs Brookline vs Westminster

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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Brookline has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureWorcesterBrooklineWestminster
People
Population
831Highest
531
497Lowest
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
43.3±11.5Lowest
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%
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Brookline 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%
19.7%±11.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Westminster and Brookline 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
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
$81,000±$22kHighest
about the VT average
Westminster 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±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
$313,600±$39kHighest
about the VT average
Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$5,000Highest
about the VT average
$4,480
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Brookline and Worcester 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%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
same as VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
22% above VT
28 minLowest
21% above VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.1%±15.9
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Westminster 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 — — #53 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.