Compare towns
Brighton vs Putney vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Putney | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
2,622 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Walpole 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole 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 51% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Brighton 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 | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brighton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.