Compare towns

Brookfield vs Putney vs Mendon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldPutneyMendon
People
Population
1,486
2,622Highest
1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9
9% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
Mendon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brookfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
49.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23k
21% above VT
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$100,524±$23kHighest
24% above VT
Mendon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,300±$15k
7% above VT
$300,000±$44kLowest
5% below VT
$357,000±$44kHighest
13% above VT
Mendon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306
21% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,230±$651Highest
about the VT average
Mendon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560Lowest
10% below VT
$5,313
5% above VT
$5,342Highest
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
18 min
24% below VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Mendon 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 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 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.