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.

MeasureWorcesterSalisburyBrookline
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.