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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
531Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Brookline and Worcester 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±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Brookline and Westminster 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 |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Brookline 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Worcester 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 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.