Compare towns
Worcester vs Lowell vs Brookline
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%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Lowell | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
1,070Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Highest 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% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 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±$18k 9% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
| 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±$27k 14% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% 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±$136 17% below VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Lowell 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% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 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 | Lowell School District | — |
| 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.