Compare towns
Worcester vs Salisbury 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%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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.
| Measure | Worcester | Salisbury | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
1,200Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
| Salisbury and Worcester 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Salisbury 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest 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±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Salisbury 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 |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Salisbury and Brookline 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 |
$1,443±$984 17% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Salisbury 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 |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Salisbury 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% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.


