Compare towns
Brighton 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
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Brookline | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
531Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Brighton and Brookline 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% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Brookline 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% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% 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 | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% 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 | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%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 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school 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.