Compare towns
Alton vs Brookline vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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 | Alton | Brookline | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
531Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Alton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Putney 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.