Compare towns
Brookline vs Cabot vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 45.1).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Cabot | Middlesex | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,579 |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Middlesex 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% |
21%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cabot and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 |
$268,500±$77kLowest 15% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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 |
$4,639Lowest 8% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brookline 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% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 27% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cabot 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 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.