Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Plainfield 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

Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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.

MeasureBrattleboroPlainfieldPutney
People
Population
12,122Highest
2,522Lowest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Brattleboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brattleboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58
24% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700
83% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
28% below U.S.
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield 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 #19 of 120 in NH #32 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Plainfield School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0
— —
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.