Compare towns

Brattleboro 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

Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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.

MeasureBrattleboroBrooklinePutney
People
Population
12,122Highest
531Lowest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
Brattleboro and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8
VT: 17.9%
20%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brattleboro and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
41.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the VT average
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% 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
$1,074±$58
13% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
$5,000Lowest
about the VT average
$5,313
5% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Lowest
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
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
19% below VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
Work from home
17.9%±4
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Brookline and Brattleboro 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 #33 of 70 in VT — #32 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0
— —
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.