Compare towns
Berlin vs Brookline vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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.
| Measure | Berlin | Brookline | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
531Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Berlin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.