Compare towns
Brookline vs Bellows Falls vs Andover vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Brookline | Bellows Falls | Andover | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,891Highest |
616 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Andover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Brookline 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 | — | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.