Compare towns

Worcester vs Brookline vs Williston

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 youngest population (median age 45.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterBrooklineWilliston
People
Population
831
531Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±2.7Highest
9% above VT
45.1±2.7Lowest
5% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
Worcester and Williston 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%
20.5%±5.2Highest
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+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Williston 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%
VT: 43.8%
41.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
Worcester and Williston 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
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
Williston 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
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,732±$232
40% above VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% 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
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$5,000
about the VT average
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Brookline and Williston 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%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
22% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Williston 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
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.