Compare towns
Brighton vs Brookfield vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Brighton | Brookfield | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
1,486 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Brookfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Brookfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$975±$306Highest 21% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Brookfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.